Lee County approves donated space for state-funded regional TBI center at Benny Adkins Center

April Turner, representing the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, told the Lee County Commission Sept. 8 that the agency is seeking donated office space at the Benny Adkins Center to host one of five state-funded regional traumatic brain injury (TBI) centers.

Turner said the center would serve veterans and National Guard members, provide free initial screening and linkage to services, and operate in coordination with a separate clinical facility under development. "We will be serving our veterans and our guards members, treating them, and also linking them to services in relation to TBI," Turner said.

Supporters who spoke at the meeting emphasized local veteran need. Drew Lufkin, an organizer with Operation Iron Rook, said the clinic would be free to veterans and called the service a necessary local resource: "This clinic is gonna be free to veterans. They can walk in, and they can be seen immediately," he said. Jamie Popul of Flags for Veterans described frequent obstacles veterans face accessing care.

Commissioners said the program had state backing and stable funding through governor-allocated state money. Staff and an ADRS representative said the program sought donated office space (four small offices and one larger office plus occasional use of a conference room) and that the other four regional centers are in Huntsville, Mobile, Dothan and Birmingham.

A motion to approve housing the ADRS regional TBI center at the Benny Adkins Center and to authorize the chairman to work with county counsel to draft a memorandum of understanding carried by voice vote. Commissioners discussed parking and pledged to reserve a small number of spaces for the program where feasible.

The action directs staff to finalize a written MOU specifying what the county will provide and what ADRS will deliver in return and to return to the commission with any follow-up details as needed.