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Chemical dependency unit completion delayed
Published Monday, September 29, 2008
The opening of Otter Tail County’s new 60-bed chemical dependency center will be delayed until after the new year.
Water leaks around several windows are being blamed on the delay, which will keep the center from opening until Jan. 5, 2009. Plans were to have the center open by the second week of November.
“All of the parties involved worked together to find and eliminate the source of the leaks,” said Otter Tail County Physical Plant Manager Rick Sytsma. “These conditions have been addressed, corrections have been made and the project is once again moving forward.”
The 34,000 square-foot chemical dependency unit is being built on 7.5 acres on the northwest corner of Western Business Park, off Western Avenue to the north of West Central Initiatives.
The county-owned building has already been leased to the State of Minnesota which will operate the facility. This scenario is in place in order to obtain funding through the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
The HRA will hold title to the building until final payments are made. Last year $6.11 million in bonds were sold to fund construction of the facility. Otter Tail County and the HRA are providing financing for the building through the bond issue — to be purchased back by the state over a 15-year lease.
Comstock Construction is building the new center.
When the state changed the method of treatment from a large institutional setting to community-based approaches, the primary concern other than the vacant RTC building in Fergus Falls would be the loss of jobs. The new chemical dependency facility will retain a significant number of local jobs.
People from a nine-county region will be served by the facility. In-patient and out-patient treatment will be available, as well as extended treatment for clients transitioning from treatment back into the community.
About 14 beds will be earmarked for adolescents.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by FFSSG (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Since there is nothing for kids to do in this town its a good thing that the county is being so proactive to be able to treat them after they are all messed up on drugs. Mabey if some money was put into somthing for Kids to do around here we would not have to pump all this money into a treatment facility. Just a thought.
Posted by HotFergusMan (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what do you suggest FFSSG. It's fine to whine about a problem as long as you have a solution. If not, please mute yourself.
Posted by otter (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Parks, school activities, tennis courts, swimming beaches, ice skating rings,skate board park, biking paths, softball/baseball diamonds, These are just a list of some of the public free things, Maybe kids could go for a walk, play games, donate time to charity. Since when is it up to the town to entertain kids, make them use their minds and creativity and be kids. Fergus does enough for them now it is up to them do for themselves.
Posted by FFSSG (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh I am not whining my point was really more tward the fact that there has to be so much money spent on a drug rehab facility. I guess If you would like a solution to the problem it would be parenting and a better education program for the kids. I know that there is many things that kids could do these days if they wanted too. I also know that there are many things that could be improved in this town for the youth. Such as beaches or lack there of this could be problem solved by mabey an community pool. ice rinks are good I spent a lot of time on them growing up. some kids are not into athletics so mabey an internet cafe would be a useful thing. I know there are 3 or 4 comps at the library but I was thinking more of a social atmosphere where kids can talk or hang out at the same time. Its not like it was back 40 years ago where you could go hang out at the local A&W with the good clean fun. I just think it is sad that our society has gotten to the point where we have to spend 6.11 million on a facility for drug treatment when if the proper education of the youth for the past 15 years or so could have prevented some of the people using the facility from even using drugs.
Posted by caregiver90 (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of that education (of the youth for the past 15 years or so) should be taking place in the home with the parents. That's where the biggest problem is.
Posted by FFSSG (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you caregiver90. Well Said.
Posted by BaddaBing (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, cargiver90. My mother, coz our Dad was working all the time, said, "This is your world and this is what you can do with it and these are the restrictions." But I was raised out in the country so it's a whole different thing. Living in town is the same thing only more refined.
It is totally up to the parents. Teach your children well. And just for the fun of it...drive them around Maple Wood this weekend. The trees will be peaking.
Posted by sassica (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where did the idea of a community center? I don't think that is such a bad idea.........I would certainly like to see that more than the REHAB center. Send the bad apples away from our community. Let the kids play!
HotFergusMan, lets here your opinion on the matter! Apparently you have one. What are your kids up to? Or don't you have any? Maybe you would like to see a new REHAB center. Maybe you'll visit?????
Posted by airbear (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
FYI.....FF has been treating adolescents over the past 20 years at the FFRTC. As a current state employee, I can tell you that 90% of teens treated here in town are from neighboring counties. We have one of the only drug/alcohol adolescent treatment centers in MN so lets not go overboard! This has, and will remain an asset to those in need of help.
Posted by mccain08 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the hospital is using it's outlandish profits to build more buildings so that it can profit from even more people. eventually you will just sign your entire paycheck over to the hospital and insurance company every month.
health care costs are the #1 reason for bankruptcy and are largely responsible for the economic downturn, even though they will say it's a mortgage-only problem.
turning a profit from the ill is the most disgusting form of fascism and is just one of a long list of examples of how in this country, only the wealthy deserve basic needs. i personally would rather have a non-profit government agency "come between me and my doctor" than some porche-driving saleman from United Health or Kaiser Permanente. then maybe i could go get a couple stitches and the bill wouldn't be more than my mortgage payment for 5 minutes worth of work.
Posted by waterlily (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
please everyone..........we need a rehab unit.....do some research, drug and alcohol addiction is a disease. if it was for those with diabetes we wouldn't have any comments on here. lets all keep our sidewalks clean and then we won't need to complain about others.
Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
addiction is not a disease, it is a choice. alot of people that go thru the rtc it is more of a lifestyle with multiple treatments that cost you and me $300 plus dollars a day.
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