Another step to create and fund and an advisory board to help tackle the opioid epidemic in Bartholomew County passed the Columbus City Council Tuesday night. The board would be comprised of officials from the city, county, Columbus Regional Health and other stakeholders in determining what projects and programs would benefit from public funding.

The city council voted 7-0 to give final approval for ordinances creating and funding the body. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, explains that the measure now goes to the county commissioners for their approval. Once both the city and county give final approval, an agreement linking the two bodies would need to be approved. Ferdon says that is likely still months away.

Tuesday night’s actions also included the creation of a non-reverting fund to help finance future efforts to battle the opioid epidemic. The council set aside $250,000 during last year’s budget process for that very effort. The council also approved moving those funds to that account.