County Commission to consider formalizing intent to build crisis intervention center

Douglas County Jail

Douglas County Commissioners at their meeting Wednesday will consider signing a letter of intent to establish a crisis intervention center with Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

The letter of intent formalizes talks over the past few months of building a facility as a means to divert some who suffer severe mental illness from the Douglas County Jail.

“This will be the first time the County Commission has actually taken formal action, saying, ‘Yes, this is where we intend to put (the center),’ and that the Bert Nash board has already passed a resolution saying, ‘Yes, we’re willing to have you do that,'” County Administrator Craig Weinaug said.

Weinaug said Bert Nash owns some land north of Second Street, near the former VFW building, 138 Alabama St., and south of Sandra Shaw Park. The land is near the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, but far from the jail, which Weinaug said has been the intent all along.

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“We’ve always said the worst possible place for it would be at the jail,” he said.

Weinaug said that if commissioners approve this resolution, the next steps to follow in January would be selecting an architecture firm to put together a preliminary design plan and cost estimates for the center.

“That will then enable the County Commission to start to grapple with the issue of how they will pay for it,” Weinaug said.

This letter of intent follows the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office’s receipt of a $200,000 federal grant to help offer treatment alternatives to jail, and commissioners’ proclamation of the county’s support for these efforts.

Commissioners will also consider renewing contracts for medical and mental health services for the Douglas County Jail under the recommendation of Sheriff Ken McGovern, as well as approving 2015 budget amendments.