Bradley County Commission votes to oppose proposed state mental health hospital site in McDonald

Bradley County commissioners on Dec. 15 voted to go on record opposing a proposed state mental health facility at a site near Exit 20 in the McDonald community, after more than an hour of public comment and debate about notice, safety and local impacts.

The action followed repeated public objections from residents and stakeholders who said they were not adequately notified and raised concerns about proximity to schools and emergency services. One public commenter said, "I just cannot understand why this body of government don't have control over something in our county," and urged commissioners to act. Another resident said the project "takes away from our county" and asked officials to expedite a letter opposing the site.

Commissioners debated legal options. The county attorney told the commission that, under a long-standing court opinion from the 1950s, state projects devoted entirely to government purposes generally are not subject to local zoning unless the ordinance explicitly says so; he advised the county that it may lack legal authority to block a state site by zoning alone but that sending a letter expressing the commission's position could be appropriate. The attorney also noted recorded easements on the parcel "run with the land," meaning previously granted rights remain in effect.

Commissioner Hughes initially moved that the county draft and send a letter to the Department of Mental Health opposing the site; commissioners asked that a draft be prepared for review at the Jan. 5 voting session so they could see the exact language before voting on a countywide letter. Several commissioners and members of the public urged swifter action. The commission later suspended its rules to consider an immediate, formal resolution and then approved a motion to have the county commission go on record opposing the facility at the McDonald location; the clerk recorded the vote as 12 in favor, none opposed, with two members absent.

Speakers during public comment pointed to specific local impacts: proximity to Prospect and Black Fox elementary schools, potential strains on understaffed EMS and law enforcement, and a November incident referenced by a commenter in which a patient moved from a mental health facility eluded custody. Planning and economic development concerns also were raised, with some residents saying the county was not informed and that the project appeared to be advancing without broad local engagement.

Chairman Krai said he would forward a letter reflecting the commission’s opposition after drafting and review. County attorneys and staff said individual commissioners are free to send their own letters immediately; a signed letter carrying the commission's name requires a formal vote on the text or an executive-action authorization.

The commission’s formal opposition is a political statement; commissioners and staff emphasized that the county’s legal authority over state siting decisions is limited and that further steps — including discussions with the state and review of the certificate-of-need and annexation processes — would be pursued in the weeks ahead.