JUDGE URGES MEDIATION IN DISPUTE OVER METHADONE CLINIC

JOHNSON CITY - An administrative law judge Tuesday encouraged Johnson City
and a Nashville company to use arbitration to resolve the issue of whether
or not a methadone clinic is to be built in the city.

The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, which has since been replaced
by the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency, approved the
Johnson City Addiction Research and Treatment Center with an 8-0-1 vote in
June.

The clinic, to be located at 200 W. Fairview Ave., will offer methadone
treatment for a projected 250 people in its first two years of operation.

Frontier Health, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee
State University, the chamber of commerce, Central Baptist Church, St.
John's Episcopal Church, and Watauga Insurance have filed an appeal to the
THFC's ruling.

The city of Johnson City, the Johnson City Development Authority and the
Asbury Center have also voiced their opposition to the clinic.

On Tuesday, a pre-hearing conference was held in Nashville before Judge
James Hornsby to discuss whether arbitration or mediation was a viable
option in the case, said Reid Brogden, attorney for the THSDA.

Brogden said Hornsby "strongly encouraged" both parties to get together and
resolve the issue through mediation.

"My office supports mediation and also expressed a desire that the parties
get together and work it out," Brogden said. "The parties were undetermined
about mediation."

Jerry Taylor, attorney for the methadone clinic, said a consensus between
the city and the clinic was that arbitration in this matter would not be
helpful.

"The attorneys for the parties are still considering the possibility of
some type of mediation proceeding," Taylor said. "Both parties indicated
filing preliminary motions to determine whether and to what extent the
proceedings will go forward, and that'll be up to the judge to decide."

Brogden said a general agreement was reached Tuesday that the Dec. 9, 10
and 11 hearing dates might need to be moved back.

"Because both sides indicated that they would be filing motions in the
case," Brogden said. "Following a hearing on the motions, then a new
hearing date (on the appeal) would be set."

Joseph Wellborn, attorney for the city, JCDA and chamber of commerce in
this matter, did not return phone calls on Tuesday.

Gayle Malone, attorney for Frontier Health, could not be reached for comment.