TEES DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTRE MOVES FORWARD

Lacombe County Council Gave The Green Light For A Drug And Alcohol
Treatment Centre To Be Located At The Former Camp Tees Minimum-Security Prison

Lacombe Globe -- Lacombe County council gave the green light for a
drug and alcohol treatment centre to be located at the former Camp
Tees minimum-security prison.

At their April 11 meeting, council gave second and third reading to
rezone land for the Central Alberta Recovery Centre.

Tees residents were unanimous in their verbal submissions that the
community would accept a drug and alcohol treatment centre in its
backyard. Written and verbal comments were issued during a public
hearing regarding the matter at the Tees Community Hall on April 10.

Only one submission expressed concern about the treatment centre
proposal, citing possible "risks and loss of values."

Jim Gray and Karen Cretney, co-owners of the site, wanted to
establish the 20-man drug and alcohol treatment centre for "ordinary
men from ordinary workplaces."

It would be privately funded through employers, unions, health plans
or by clients.

Gray stressed at the meeting that it was not a detox centre, but
rather would only accept men who had been sober for at least a week
before admittance. They would then stay at the centre for five weeks
and see counsellors, exercise, attend meetings and learn life skills
for sobriety.

The main concern councillors expressed during the evening was
security, certification and accreditation.

Tees resident and father of three, Mark Kenney, said he supports the
idea and does not have safety concerns.

John Trembley, director of the proposed centre, said they would look
at setting up a board of community members that would continually
access concerns, fears and the appearance of the centre.

"We do far too little for people with these kinds of difficulties,"
said neighbor George Friesen, who thought the centre would already be
up and running by now. "We help people fix hips and knees but forget
about the people dealing with addictions like drugs and alcohol."

"These people will provide a very valuable service to the community,"
added resident Carol Rowley.

Coun. Robert Szasz questioned why women would not receive treatment
at the proposed centre.

Cretney, who has dealt with alcohol problems herself responded, "I am
all for helping women but a co-ed facility would just not work as
well. There is only one sleeping area and we cannot accommodate both sexes."

Coun. Bill Knight still expressed concern in council chambers with
regard to security. He opposed the rezoning request, asking for a
fence around the perimeter as part of the development permit.

"It's security that's important," said Knight. "It's not alcohol
people are frightened of, but there is a fear of crystal meth. There
is a fear that maybe a buddy will drive in behind the camp and give
his friend in detox a little treat to help them through the process."

Trembley noted there would be a wire fence up that would separate
public from private property.

Sgt. Mike Cody of Bashaw RCMP submitted a letter stating the centre
would be of little risk to the community.

The process will now move into the development permit stage.