The Great Bend City Council will be asked at the Monday, June 16 meeting to approve the purchase of a mobile unit that can incinerate illegal narcotics collected by law enforcement, as well as a drug drop box to place in the lobby of the Great Bend Police Department. Police Chief Steve Haulmark is on the agenda seeking approval to purchase a Drug Terminator and a drop box from Elastec for $7,570.
Funding for the project would be supported through Kansas House Bill 2079 and the Kansas Fights Addiction Act, which allocated a portion of opioid litigation settlement funds to municipalities for initiatives aimed at preventing opioid misuse and enhancing community safety.
According to the agenda, a significant portion of the criminal activity within the Great Bend city limits is related to illegal narcotics.
“These offenses range from the possession and use of controlled substances to additional illegal acts often committed to support substance abuse.
“Once related criminal cases are resolved, the Police Department is responsible for properly disposing of these narcotics.”
The GBPD researched possible solutions and determined a stationary unit did not meet its needs for flexibility and space. Elastec, a vendor based in Cami, Ill., offers the Drug Terminator, a mobile incinerator that can be stored and deployed as needed.
The agenda notes the product is environmentally friendly and compliant with Drug Enforcement Administration standards. It will significantly (reduce) the risks associated with prolonged storage and transportation.”
Drop box
Additionally, Haulmark will request approval of the purchase and installation of a secure drug drop box in the public lobby of the Police Department at 1121 Baker Ave. Haulmark said this would provide residents with a convenient, anonymous and safe way to dispose of expired or unused medications year-round, rather than waiting for periodic drug take-back events.
“This initiative would help reduce the risk of misuse, accidental ingestion, and environmental contamination,” the agenda stated. The box would be purchased from the same vendor.
