TREATMENT CENTER DRAWS FIRE

But Facility Likely To Open In Granite Area Despite Outcry

Granite area residents hoping to postpone or prevent a drug and alcohol
rehabilitation center from opening in their neighborhood will move their
fight from the front porches to government chambers this week.

Petitions asking that the Salt Lake County Council find a way to stop the
ARK of Little Cottonwood from opening in a residential home adjacent to
Granite Elementary will be submitted during Tuesday's meeting.
Additionally, the neighbors will ask that the county study the impact of
the facility on property values and schoolchildren's safety.

At the same time, the County Council will consider new guidelines for
rehabilitation centers that operate within 500 feet of a school, although
those rules would most likely lead to immediate approval for the relocation
of ARK, which currently is in a residential neighborhood at the mouth of
Little Cottonwood Canyon. The primary change to the current disability-care
facility ordinance -- drug and alcohol addiction are legally considered
disabilities -- would be a requirement for 24-hour supervision.

Councilman Marv Hendrickson said that while the County Council will most
likely allow the relocation, he does want more details about security at
the center. He also wants more information about the safety of the current
center, and whether it should be treated like a medical office or require
more extensive safety measures.

"This is not a prison facility; it's a treatment center," he said. "You
don't see barbed wire around a doctor's office."

Because of a settlement with ARK in 2000 that allowed the facility to open
at its current location, 3677 E. Little Cottonwood Road, the County Council
may not have any choice about allowing the new center.

"Why fight it when it's right there and mandated." Hendrickson said. "If we
already know we can't win in court, it wouldn't make sense to try."

Despite that, concerned neighbors and Granite parents have waged a vocal
fight against the center since they found out about the relocation two
weeks ago.

Beck Locey helped organize parents and residents into "The Children's
Safety Council," arranged a community meeting last week and gathered
signatures for the petition. Like many neighbors, he is worried that ARK
wants a bigger home so it can expand its clientele beyond the 16 it
currently plans on helping.

"It's my belief that they are moving to this facility so they can grow
their operation," he said.

ARK representatives, who also attended the Thursday night meeting, tried to
calm some of their future neighbors' concerns. Ryan Salter, a social worker
with ARK of Little Cottonwood, said patients will live in the house for 90
days, then visit the facility once or twice a week for a year. It's similar
to 12-step programs. The success rate is 65 to 75 percent -- much higher
than the 39 percent average. ARK will have eight licenses staffers during
the day, and at least one throughout the night.

The facility could be positive for the school, Salter said. Patients could
go into classrooms and speak to children about their firsthand negative
experiences with addiction. The children "will see the face of drugs."

"I think that's more important than someone at school who doesn't have the
experience," he said.

The opposition has not garnered complete support, and some parents have
said they would welcome the facility. "My thing is you people need these
facilities," said Dan Bauer, who had a child go through a similar program.