Methadone clinic may be moving

Area News

February 2, 2009

By Dale Welch / dale@hilltopexpress.net and Michael R. Moser / mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com The Crossville Chronicle Mon Feb 02, 2009, 02:38 PM CST

Is the proposed methadone clinic that was going to locate just outside of Monterey city limits going elsewhere – like Spencer on Hwy. 111 in Van Buren County? The Hilltop Express couldn’t reach J. Paul Connell, CEO of the proposed, over the weekend, but will report more after do get to talk with him.

Property where the proposed methadone clinic was to be located is up for sale. So is a house on the corner of Industrial Dr. and Walton Hills Rd. that Connell Properties owns, as well. There is no real estate sign at the 16168 Crossville Highway property, but a real estate search revealed that the 7.83 acres is up for sale for an asking price of $55,000. The house on Industrial Dr. does have a real estate sign. The Hilltop Express did get to talk with the Van Buren County newspaper Editor Dale Henry of the Mountain View newspaper. She said that Connell is planning to put the clinic in that county, calling it Upper Cumberland Private Clinic, LLC. While resolutions opposing the methadone clinic coming to Monterey were passed by both Putnam County and Cumberland County commissions and the Monterey, it appears that some government officials are for locating the clinic in Van Buren County. In a story from the Mountain View, Van Buren County Mayor Kelly Dishman made the following comments on the issue.  “I did not enter this venture of having a methadone clinic in Van Buren County lightly or unadvisedly,” said Dishman. “The company came to me looking for a possible location several months ago. We have made two visits to the facility in Georgia. Citizens from all walks went along to tour the facility, talk to the facility and have questions answered.

“We had groups made up of business owners, individuals from the county’s Safety Committee, Industrial Board, education field, law enforcement, city of Spencer, UCHRA representative and all but three of our county commissioners. These are all people who are concerned with our community, our youth and the prosperity of our county, as am I. We have all researched and had our questions answered.  “Sure there are pros and cons, as there would be with any such proposal. I feel this will give a sense of much needed hope to Van Buren and the Upper Cumberland area citizens alike. I support this and think it will be a huge benefit to our area. I feel this is just the beginning of hope and health for citizens in need.” Dishman further noted one of the most positive feedbacks he had received on the proposed clinic came from a friend who was injured and became addicted to pain medication. He noted this individual expressed to him that without the help, hope and assistance through treatment from the facility she would be ‘worm dirt’ by now. She now lives a productive and healthy life in Van Buren County after under going methadone treatment. Connell already owns a methadone clinic in Rossville, Georgia. He had wanted to build a $970,000 clinic just outside Monterey. Two scheduled hearings with the state, one in September 2008 and another in October 2008, were put on hold because of technicalities in the application process. The application was pulled by Connell and has not yet been resubmitted.

Dale Welch is owner/publisher of The Hilltop Express newspaper in Monterey.

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