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Commissioners weigh Samaritan Colony renewal and how to use $1.5M state detox allocation
Summary
The board reviewed a Samaritan Colony renewal proposal requesting $45,000 annually and discussed a newly announced ~ $1.5 million state allocation for a detox center, noting the likely insufficiency of that amount to build and operate a facility and agreeing to coordinate with state officials and local providers.
Frankie told the board Samaritan Colony submitted a proposal to renew recovery housing support; the group discussed the request and timing. "Uh actually it's 45. That's their request," Frankie said when describing Samaritan Colony's proposal, and he added the provider guarantees at least one bed for Montgomery County residents.
Commissioners raised concerns about the state's roughly $1.5 million allocation for a detox center. One commissioner said, "Building a detox center is one thing, maintaining it and running it is a completely different animal," noting the county lacks operating funds; another commissioner estimated past local renovation costs at about $6 million for a 28-bed facility and said $1.5 million would not be sufficient to open and sustain a center. The board asked staff to coordinate with state contacts and local providers, and to consider funneling state funds toward existing providers that already accept Montgomery County clients rather than funding a new facility.
No formal commitment of the $1.5 million was made at the meeting; commissioners asked the county manager to pursue discussions with the state and return with options. The board also discussed negotiating Samaritan Colony's contract term and asked for more information before making a funding decision.
