EVANSVILLE — Nearly all six recommended recipients of the city’s opioid settlement money are connected to a member of the committee in charge of evaluating applications.
The committee was led by Evansville Deputy Mayor Lindsay Locasto and mayor’s office spokesman Joe Atkinson. Its members included State Rep. Ryan Hatfield, Evansville Police Department Assistant Chief Nathan Hassler, Superior Court Judge Wayne Trockman, licensed clinical social worker Lisa Seif and registered nurse Larissa Martin-Madison.
Committee members recommended the six organizations to Mayor Stephanie Terry as the best of 22 applicants that should receive money from the city’s opioid settlement fund, according to a news release from the city. The money in the fund is part of a $54 billion federal settlement agreement reached in 2021 with opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Locally, about $1.2 million is available to be distributed from the fund for 2024.
The Courier & Press reached out to the mayor’s office Friday to ask about potential conflicts of interest, and Atkinson said Terry knew from the beginning of the process any members who “brought the needed breadth of knowledge about the many ways opioids touch our community would have to include individuals whose organizations might apply” for the funds.