NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioner Dave Borchert, who is also the New Ulm Police Chief, told his fellow commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting that Narcan saves lives.

“I’d like to see Narcan more available and located next to fire extinguishers,” Borchert said after listening to a Brown County Human Services Substance Use Disorder (SUD) report from June 2022 through June 2023

Brown County commissioners discussed Narcan availability.

“Police officers carry two doses of Narcan,” Borchert said.

He added that Iowa college dormitories offer it but it is not as accessible in Minnesota.

Borchert said lives has been saved by Narcan, a nasal spray that contains the active drug naloxone, which makes the medication work on people with an opioid overdose.

Commissioner Brian Braun said more education on Narcan is a good idea.

According to the report, marijuana was the drug of choice with 53 cases from July 2022 through June 2023. Following were alcohol with 51 cases, methamphetamine 40, opioids five, cocaine and Xanax two and one inhalant case.

Comprehensive assessments for the same period included 76 males and 32 females.

Thirty-two assessments were for individuals in their 20s, 31 in their 30s, 21 in their 40s, 11 teenagers, eight in their 50s and five in their 60s.

Assessment recommendations included 24% in outpatient treatment, 15% 45-90 days residential treatment and 21% less than 30 days residential treatment.

In 2023, $224,598 in state funds and $7,191 in county funds were used to pay for treatment.

“Marijuana will be challenging with marijuana-dependent people using medical marijuana. Now, it’s like a high-cholesterol prescription,” said Brown County Chemical Dependency Social Worker Allison Budenski.

Commissioners unanimously approved:

• The purchase of ARMER radios with AES encryption for the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, motion by Braun, seconded by Tony Berg. Total cost is $121,160.96 from Alpha Wireless. Old portable and mobile radios are to be declared excess property to repurpose in the county or for disposal.

• A resolution to sponsor Stately Township for two Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) project submissions to pave roads with concrete or bituminous and rip-rap road in-slope in areas over-topped during major rain events, causing significant road damage, motion by Berg, seconded by Jeff Veerkamp.

Projects are on 420th Avenue, 1/4 mile north of CSAH 3 and on 430th Avenue, 3/4 mile south of CSAH 23. LRIP funds would be used for construction costs.