HUNTINGTON -- A planned substance abuse recovery center finally received a nod of support from Huntington City Council on Monday.
The council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the establishment of the Healing Place, which is being modeled after a long-term recovery program by the same name in Louisville, Ky. A local group of addiction recovery specialists and volunteers from across the region have been working on the proposed facility for more than 18 months.
The resolution, which does not commit any funding to the Healing Place, was not on Monday's agenda. However, Councilman Scott Caserta made a motion to add the item.
"I was so overwhelmed with everything that (the Louisville Healing Place) has to offer . . . that I felt impelled to move this forward," Caserta said. "They're just asking for community support at the grassroots level."
Caserta recommended that the resolution be delayed last month after a Healing Place volunteer gave a presentation to council members. He said at the time that he did not know enough about the proposal to make an informed decision. The resolution was delayed again two weeks ago when Councilman Jim Ritter said he was confused about what the Healing Place is and what it offers.
Caserta said he attended the Huntington Healing Place's monthly planning meeting last week and is confident that the recovery center would be a benefit to the area.
The Healing Place in Louisville is a medication-free program that uses the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous as the root for its curriculum. Many people who graduate from the program stay at the Healing Place to mentor incoming clients.
The program costs $25 a day per person to operate, but many clients don't pay. Instead, they earn their keep by preparing meals, doing laundry and other chores at the center.
About one-third of the Louisville Healing Place's $2.8 million budget comes from government sources, while the rest comes from monetary contributions and donated goods and services. The program can serve up to 450 people at one time.
The Healing Place has a success rate of 65 percent, which is about five times greater than traditional recovery centers. As a result, it is being replicated at 12 additional sites in Kentucky and has been used as a model at centers in Richmond, Va., and Raleigh, N.C.
Local officials have said they need about $3 million to open a facility in Huntington and $500,000 a year to operate it.
A site has not been selected yet, though local officials have looked at the old Regency Park senior center on Madison Avenue, a church in Fairfield West, the old Ames Building on W.Va. 152 and a steelworkers union hall on Buffington Avenue in Guyandotte, said Kim Miller, a part-time planner for the Healing Place and manager of women's addiction services for Prestera Center for Mental Health Services.
The Ames building would be too costly to renovate, while the church in Fairfield West is not big enough, she said.
The Healing Place in Huntington would initially serve up to 50 men. A women's recovery center would be added later, Miller said.
"It's something that we hope to replicate across the state if we're successful here," she said.
Here's a look at other City Council actions during Monday's meeting:
SECURITY CAMERAS: The council unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance purchasing 41 surveillance cameras for Harris Riverfront Park, the Big Sandy Superstore Arena and the municipal parking garage at 3rd Avenue and 8th Street.
The $158,800 contract will be awarded to McDaniel Electric of Huntington. The funds will come from Community Development Block Grant, arena and Municipal Parking Board budgets.
The camera system also will provide wireless Internet service to parts of the downtown. Mayor David Felinton said it has not been determined whether the camera system will be monitored at all times, but it does have recording capabilities.
PARKING BOARD: Councilman Cal Kent withdrew an ordinance proposing to move the Municipal Parking Board under the control of the director of administration and finance.
Mayor David Felinton fired Johnette Nelson from the executive director's position in March. Felinton and Parking Board members became concerned with Nelson after it was revealed she used Parking Board money to make several questionable purchases, including a treadmill and extensive renovations to her office.
Councilman Garry Black said a committee of council members discussed the future of the agency with Parking Board members last week. Both sides agreed there needs to be a Parking Board with an executive director for financial reasons, Black said. However, Black recommended that the director's salary of $51,000 should be decreased now that meter attendants fall under the control of the Huntington Police Department.
RECYCLING: Felinton told council members he will bring a proposal to the finance committee in the near future regarding recycling. He said someone recently suggested to him that the city offer discounts on residents' refuse fees if they sign up for recycling through Allied Waste. The city does not have a recycling program.
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