STILLWATER, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A local Columbia County nursing facility could soon become a drug rehabilitation center.
And that proposed plan has people from several communities concerned about what it could do to their neighborhood.
28/22 News Reporter Gianna Galli was at the meeting where many residents spoke out.
People at the meeting expressed concerns anywhere from community safety to traffic control.
One resident who lives right across the street isn’t accepting the potential change.
On Bonneville Road in Stillwater, Columbia County is Bonham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
It’s been around since 1975 and currently serves around 40 people.
“They’re like family to us,” stated Yvonne Bender.
Yvonne Bender and her husband moved in right across the street a few years ago.
They say they have developed friendships with those receiving care at the facility.
But now the nursing center may be replaced with a drug rehabilitation center.
“To bring this in is not really in good faith,” voiced Bender.
“This would place a heavy burden on an already taxed system,” explained Chief Dustin Thomas, Huntington Valley Volunteer Fire Company.
And they’re not the only ones in this small community concerned.
During a meeting inside Northwest Area School District Thursday, Huntington Valley Volunteer Fire Chief Dustin Thomas made it clear the challenge this would present for his team.
“Adding a facility with 77 members that are fighting the demons of drug and alcohol addiction would add more backlog to a system that is already on life support,” stated Thomas.
“You don’t understand how powerful,” added Rep. Jamie Walsh, (R), 117th district.
Pennsylvania State Representative Jamie Walsh held back tears when talking about his brother who became addicted to opioids after undergoing surgery.
He says he understand the concern on both sides but will fight for his community.
“I’m a big advocate for people being rehabilitated, believe me I wish it happened for my family, but but we have to be realistic can the community support it,” explained Rep. Walsh.
Bonham staff members attended the meeting Thursday.
I spoke with Regional Director of Operations Noelle Kovaleski and Consultant Paul McGuire.
Kovaleski says the nursing facility has lost thousands of dollars so far, this year.
And the number of residents has gone down from around 70 to 40.
“If they don’t have the staff to run a nursing home center, how are they going to have the staff to run a drug and alcohol center,” stated Bender.
Bender worries about what will happen to her friends next door.
Kovaleski tells me if the proposal gets approval residents living inside the nursing facility would have a sixty day notice to find another care facility.
There is another hearing on March 4.
