July 15, 2025 Minutes

Weld Regional Opioid Council Meeting

Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, Room 103
1555 North 17th Avenue, Greeley CO 80631
July 15, 2025 @ 9:00 am to 12:00 am

Voting Council Members in Attendance: Kim Mihm (Windsor); Scott James (Weld County Commission); Amy Anderson (Ault); Bob McDonald (WCDPHE); Matt Elbe (WCSO); John Gates (Greeley); Zo Hubbard (Fort Lupton); Julie Witkoski (Weld County Dept. of Human Services); David Angelo (Firestone PD); Michael Pirraglia (District Attorney Office)  

Advisory and Non-Council Members in Attendance: Cathy Hoover (WCDPHE); Robyn Winters (Stout Street); Deidre Tygart (Stout Street); Heidi Christiansen (YOLO Foundation); Shelby Robbins (Antelope Recovery); James Delaney (FullCircle Program); Dayna DeHerrera-Smith (PorchLight Health); Adria Schiel (Weld County Attorney); Kelley McCandless (WCDPHE); MJ Jorgensen (North Colorado Health Alliance); Louis Piotti (S.A.F.E.); Kyle Higgins (NeverLost Nonprofit); Bill Fritz (WCDPHE); Izzy Pike (Colorado Health Network); Rebecca McLaughlin (Colorado Health Network); Mark Pollard (WCSO); Dana Johnson (North Range Behavioral Health)

Minutes

1. Introductions and Opening Remarks: Bob McDonald, Bill Fritz, Kelley McCandless
   • Bob McDonald: Reminded that, moving forward, all funds must be for purposes explicitly allowed by Exhibit E.
     • It remains unclear if the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council plans to allow expenditures that have already been approved for 2025; that decision should be made in the next month or so.
   • Encouraged council members to utilize coordinator etc. to maximize impact of the council.
   • Bill Fritz: updated on RFP budget guidelines, reminded that invoices were due later that day.
   • Kelley McCandless: briefly updated council on RFP process.
2. Vote: Approve Minutes from April Meeting
   • Motion to approve by Mayor Gates, seconded by Kim Mihm, approved unanimously.
3. Presentations from Past and Prospective Grantees

   • Each organization allowed five minutes to present with up to three minutes for questions from council.

     · Colorado Health Network: Izzy Pike, Rebecca McLaughlin

     · S.A.F.E. : Louis Piotti

     · North Range Behavioral Health: Dana Johnson

     · NeverLost Nonprofit: Kyle Higgins

     · Antelope Recovery: Shelby Robbins

     · North Colorado Health Alliance: MJ Jorgensen

     · Stout Street Recovery: Robyn Winters, Deidre Tygart

     · PorchLight Health: Dayna DeHerrera-Smith

     · Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment: Cathy Hoover

     · YOLO Foundation: Heidi Christensen

4. Discussion: Scoring
   • Bob McDonald: reviewed last year’s scoring system
   • Kim Mihm: expressed support for last year’s percentage-based system
   • Discussion of virtual vs. in-person scoring and approval:
     • Recommended in-person scoring meeting for subcommittee members and Teams meeting for all voting members to approve recommendations.
   • Chief Angelo: expressed importance of addressing potential conflicts of interest
     • Disclosure and abstaining from scoring and voting on own proposal approved by the council.
   • Scoring committee volunteers: Bob McDonald, Julie Witkowski, Amy Anderson, David Angelo, Kim Mihm, and Zo Hubbard
   • Motion to create scoring committee by Chief Angelo, seconded by Kim Mihm, unanimously approved.
5. Discussion: Vacancies
   • Bob McDonald: asked council members to begin considering how vacancies should be filled as certain council members will no longer be eligible at the end of the year.
6. Adjourn

   • Motion to adjourn by Mayor Gates, seconded by Chief Angelo, approved.

   • Link to recorded meeting available on request: kmccandless@weld.gov

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 @ 10:00 am at 1555 N 17th Avenue, Greeley, CO (Room 103 or via Microsoft Teams)