COMMISSIONERS TO AGAIN HEAR METHADONE CLINIC ARGUMENTS

A proposed methadone clinic to be located just off Johnson City's downtown
area will again be debated in front of the City Commission during its
regular meeting Thursday.

The Johnson City Addiction and Treatment Center LLC, which will offer drug
and alcohol addiction treatment services, received a certificate of need in
June to establish a non-residential treatment facility at 200 W. Fairview
Ave. Officials with the clinic said they hope to have it operating by January.

The clinic will primarily utilize methadone, which is synthetically
manufactured and used as a substitute for the treatment of people dependent
on heroin and other opiates.

The CON was approved here during a hearing of the Health Facilities
Commission by an 8-0 vote, with one commissioner not voting.

But the state commission's decision has been appealed by numerous local
organizations and they will be going in front of city leaders for a second
time seeking officials' support to keep the clinic out.

The appeal will be heard in Nashville in front of the Tennessee Health
Services and Development Agency on Dec. 9, 10 and 11.

Frontier Health President Doug Varney is expected to address the City
Commission this week to elicit support against the clinic.

"We would like to ask that the board consider taking a formal position
opposing the proposed methadone clinic," Varney wrote in a letter to city
officials. "As you know, we have filed an appeal to the Health Facilities
Commission to reconsider their approval of that project and believe action
by the city would be helpful."

Community leaders asked the City Commission for its support in a July 18
meeting, but elected leaders would only go so far as to support a second
hearing.

"I think at some point this commission will have to take some position (on
whether the clinic should come to Johnson City), but I don't think it is
essential to do it now," City Commissioner Steve Darden said during that
meeting.

Along with the appeal by community leaders, City Manager Mike West will
present a resolution for the City Commission to formerly oppose the
clinic's location on Fairview.

In other business, a letter from Johnson City Housing Authority Director Ed
Zimbicki concerning city funds withheld from the city's Athletic Club
because of dispute over in-lieu-of-tax payments and poor water and sewer
services will be discussed.

"There is an ongoing disagreement between the city and the Johnson City
Housing Authority concerning maintenance and improvements to roads,
sidewalks, water and sewer lines and storm sewers," West said in a memo to
city leaders. "Apparently, the Johnson City Housing Authority is
withholding (in-lieu-of-tax) payments because of this."