DIRECTOR AND NEW COMMISSION IN LINE FOR COMBAT ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM

Jackson County is creating a director's job and a new commission to
make its COMBAT anti-drug program more effective and organized.

The County Legislature approved the changes Monday upon the advice of
a special committee that recently studied COMBAT, which is funded
from a quarter-cent sales tax that raises $14 million to $18 million annually.

Money is used for drug prevention programs and to prosecute, treat
and incarcerate drug offenders. Various agencies apply for funding,
but the advisory committee found much confusion over who is in
charge, because money goes for so many purposes.

County Executive Mike Sanders said a director "would bring all the
disparate elements of the drug program under one umbrella." Sanders
would appoint the director.

COMBAT has pared staff in the past year, and Jim Nunnelly, the
longtime program administrator, plans to retire late this year.

Sanders said COMBAT would cost less to administer under a new
director than it did as previously staffed. A salary has not been set.

Sanders also supported the review committee's proposal to replace the
existing seven-member COMBAT commission with a nine-member commission
that represented the Legislature's six districts.

Three members would be appointed at-large, with backgrounds in law,
substance abuse and public health, respectively.

Members would each get $200 per meeting up to a maximum of $1,200 and
meet at least quarterly. The commission would determine goals and
recommend who gets funded.

Sanders said appointment of a director and commission would take at
least until midyear.