Williamson County will take over administrative tasks for the Texas Targeted Opioid Response grant from the City of Round Rock.

The Commissioners Court approved the transition that will allow the county to work directly with the state of Texas on the grant July 30.

Chris Connealy, Williamson County senior director of emergency services, said the county will be the direct recipient of the grant. He added that the change will not increase workload for reporting, and reports will be sent directly to the state instead of routing them through the city of Round Rock as is currently being done.

“By transferring to the county … we can provide services to all of Williamson County,” Connealy said.

The TTOR grant allows for three paramedics housed in Round Rock Fire Station No. 6 and Williamson County Mobile Outreach Team members to respond to potential opioid overdoses with preventive medications, such as Narcan, Connealy said.

The grant also expands access to treatment, prevention and provides long-term recovery support for people with a history of opioid use disorders and overdose, according to the Texas Health and Human Services website.

Since the program began, approximately 21 lives have been saved, Connealy said.

Connealy said due to an internal increase in workload for the city of Round Rock, Williamson County was asked to take over. The county’s auditor’s office will complete the administrative tasks associated with grant, and the county will also receive the administrative fees generated from the service, he said.

The grant period ends Sept. 3, after which the county will take over, Connealy said.

“This opioid plan has a lot of notoriety for its innovation,” Connealy said, adding that other Texas counties are replicating what Williamson County has done with the program.