Neighbors describe repeated incidents as Morrison County planners decline to recommend approval for Refractions' 10-bed expansion

The Morrison County Planning Commission on the evening heard hours of testimony about a request from KP Homes LLC/Refractions to expand a licensed adult residential treatment center from six to ten beds and voted not to recommend approval, forwarding the application to the County Board without a favorable recommendation.

At the public hearing Lucas Young Bloom, a neighbor who said he lives directly across the road, told the commission he has witnessed residents "yelling, screaming, profanities" and described multiple interactions that prompted him to call local police. "It hits close to home," he said, urging commissioners not to approve the expansion to 10 beds.

Another nearby resident, Carrie Vote, recounted multiple incidents over the facility’s time in operation, including an episode she said involved a resident approaching her child with a knife and a separate instance in which a new staff member mistakenly entered her home after midnight. "This is not a locked unit," Vote said, adding that while she supports mental-health treatment, she was concerned about safety for children and neighbors if the facility added beds.

Land services staff summarized the application, noting the five-acre parcel is served by County State Aid Highway 17 and that state Health & Human Services licensing governs staffing levels. Staff said the property has operated as a six-bed facility since 2022 and that the sheriff’s office has been called "occasionally" for incidents that staff said were typically resolved quickly.

Applicants responding to public comment acknowledged incidents and emphasized stabilization goals. They said moving from six to ten beds would permit hiring additional staff to allow two staff per shift, and they proposed operational restrictions to limit where clients walk on the property and to increase supervision when residents are outside.

Commissioners discussed potential conditions, including a perimeter privacy fence and a sunset clause tied to sale or a change in license holder, and examined staff training, quiet hours (staff said residents are generally expected to be in between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.), and septic/permitting issues related to increased occupancy. Several commissioners said a privacy fence would make neighbors more comfortable.

After deliberation the commission did not adopt a motion to recommend approval; the application will be considered by the Morrison County Board of Commissioners at its May 5 meeting. Planning commissioners discussed recommended conditions that the County Board could attach if it chooses to approve the expansion, including a perimeter privacy fence and a sunset condition tied to ownership or license termination.

The planning commission’s record of the meeting includes staff reports on ordinance Section 607.7 requiring interim use permits for residential treatment centers that exceed six beds, and staff noted that state licensing must proceed in concert with local approval.