Proposed drug project on agenda

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March 13, 2010

Lawrence recovery center for women would be part of faith-based Odyssey program

Tim Preston/The Independent The Daily Independent Sat Mar 13, 2010, 11:42 PM EST

Louisa — Monday morning’s meeting of the Lawrence County Fiscal Court is expected to include heated debate and discussion about a proposed drug addiction recovery shelter for women.

A spokesman for the Lawrence judge-executive’s office confirmed residents of Bow Branch, and others opposed to a proposed in-house addiction recovery shelter for up to 16 women, will speak at the 10 a.m. meeting. Others who support the shelter, which is part of the faith-based Odyssey program, are also expected to speak during Monday’s fiscal court session.

Tim Robinson, Odyssey’s executive director for Community Fellowship in downtown Louisa, said he has been told the people opposed to the shelter on Bow Branch have questions about the use of a residential structure as a recovery shelter under the county’s zoning ordinance, as well as concerns the septic system will not meet the needs of 16 women.

“We talked to the Lawrence County Attorney (Mike Hogan) months ago and he assured us that under his interpretation that the zoning ordinance did not prevent the women’s shelter,” Robinson said, adding Odyssey’s response to the sewage concern is “that the issue is one for the health department not the fiscal court. We have already started the process to meet any guidelines and if we need to install additional septic tanks/aeration systems, then we will do it.”

“The neighbors are also saying that we’ve not communicated with them, but that is not true,” Robinson said. “We went door to door over in Bow Branch with an information sheet a couple of months ago about the same time as the controversy in town was going on over the resource center that has now been open for several weeks without incident or problems.”

Community Fellowship Pastor Rick May said he remains confused about people’s opposition to the recovery center.

“It’s almost like a spiritual oppression. People are mad and there’s no reason to be mad,” May said. “It’s crazy. When you talk to people it’s just like, ‘No! We can’t have that here.’”

Without speaking directly about the Odyssey program or proposed recovery shelter, Lawrence County Sheriff Garrett Roberts said a drug recovery program would benefit local residents who are frustrated with the impact of prescription drug abuse in their community.

“It is our No. 1 problem in Lawrence County,” Roberts said, specifying prescription drugs, including painkillers obtained in Florida and imported to Lawrence County.

Such a program “would be another avenue for us to use in the rehabilitation of these people that are addicted,” the sheriff said, adding he has questions about the establishment of an in-house shelter program in downtown Louisa.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.

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