The Shady Rest Committee (Commissioner Kurt Garner, Co. Council President Judy Stone, Ward Byers head of Community Corrections, Deb VanDeMark County Clerk, citizen representative Dennis Beville, Bill Walters from the Plymouth City Council along with Dustin Schafer Director of the Neighborhood Center) conducted an open conversation Tuesday afternoon in the County Building. Members talked about the presentation they head two weeks ago from Ted Hayden and Gregg Erickson for a therapeutic facility that would assist those struggling with addiction.
While the committee is interested in the partnership between the two, there were concerns on sustainability of the program. The committee has asked the partnership to bring a detailed business plan and information the 501 c3 not-for-profit status to them by November 1st.
At Tuesday’s meeting, a couple of neighbors from a nearby subdivision attended and asked questions and expressed their concerns.
Laurie Sutter wanted to know more information on proposed security at the facility since there are lots of kids in the neighborhood. She also wanted to know what a non-violent offender was since the proposal was to have non-violent men and women in the facility.
Deb Friar told the committee that many of the neighbors don’t know about the proposal. She suggested they send a letter to neighbors within a specific distance and invited them to an evening meeting to let them know what the plan is. She too, also had concerns on who would be housed in the facility, what the security would be, and how much outside activity the clients would have.
Angie Kain told the committee she lost her son to a heroin overdose at the Economy Inn. She urged them to keep moving forward with a facility that would help those in need in the county.
Committee member and head of Community Corrections Ward Byers told the neighbors that security at the proposed facility would be 24/7 with 24 hour supervision and clients ordered by Community Corrections would have GPS ankle bracelets. He assured them that if a client left the facility Community Correction officers would immediately know and contact the Sheriff’s Department to locate the client. The GPS would recognize their location within 10 feet. Once located the client would be booked into the County Jail and held for the remainder of the sentence.
Byers explained that all level 6 felons and many level 5 convicted felons are held in the county jail or in the community corrections program and they are living around the country. He said the shop in our stores, go to their children’s ballgames and go to work. The non-violent felons are screened prior to being placed on ankle bracelets. Most have drug convictions and DO NOT have a history of crimes against people.
The proposed program will provide structure and guidance through the recovery process and clients will receive treatment from the Bowen Center.
The next meeting of the Shady Rest Committee will be Tuesday, November 14th at 2 p.m. in the 2nd floor meeting room of the County Building.
