DRUG-TESTING CLINIC MAY MOVE AS COMPLAINTS MOUNT

Neighbors say Lansing facility's clients disruptive

A county drug-testing clinic that gets as many as 800 clients a week may
soon move because of neighbors' complaints.

Residents living near Michigan and Hayford avenues on Lansing's east side
say people coming to the Hayford Street Clinic block driveways, loiter and
throw trash in their yards.

The clinic, also called Project Century, has been a headache for neighbors
for the past couple years. The two-story house has grown from handling 18
clients a week in 1992 to more than 200 on some days now.

Ingham County, which runs the program, is trying to find a new, more
isolated location with more parking. The county hopes to have a new place
to rent in 90 days, clinic director Dr. Jerry Gallagher said.

"We will do just about anything we can to make this happen," said
Gallagher, who hopes to present four potential sites to county
commissioners next week. Commissioners will have to vote on a location.

That's good news to Pam Zeller, who has lived across from the clinic on
Hayford for three years. She comes out of her house once a week to find a
car blocking all or part of her driveway.

"I've come home and had people sitting on my porch," Zeller said. "I don't
think we should have to suffer another summer."

In response to neighbors' complaints, the Lansing City Council has been
lobbying the county to make the move. Last week, the council passed a
resolution encouraging commissioners to find a new site.

"It is time to stop talking and start doing," Councilman Brian Jeffries said.

The clinic mostly collects urine for drug tests. It also collects DNA
samples and conducts Breathalyzer tests to detect alcohol.

Clients range from convicted criminals sentenced to weekly urine testing
for drugs to a father in a custody dispute who needs to prove he hasn't
been drinking in order to get visits with his children.

The clinic had one security guard but recently hired another in response to
complaints from neighbors.

But the large number of people coming in and out still causes problems,
neighbors say.

"We all agree that the current location is not appropriate for the long
term," county Controller Jerry Ambrose said.

The busiest days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, when more than 200
people come through each day.

The center is open to clients seven days a week, from 5:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The clinic is popular because it's one of a few drug-testing facilities in
the area that has a doctor on staff, Gallagher said. He is able to attest
to the accuracy of the testing in court.

And as more jails become overcrowded, judges are using the clinic to keep
track of the behavior of criminals without having to keep them in jail, he
said.

"We are trying to keep the jail counts down," Gallagher said.

The county runs the program but doesn't contribute any funding. Fees of $10
to $20 for testing, charged to clients, pay the $580,000-a-year budget.

The county raised fees by

$1 in January to raise money for the move.

Startup costs for the move are estimated at $100,000, Gallagher said.

He said the county is looking for a facility with about 3,000 square feet
and ample parking. The county has looked at more than 20 sites since autumn.

The clinic would rent the facility as it does now at the Hayford location.