In support of the Cassian ARWC

Editor’s note: 

This letter is addressed to the Oneida County Planning and Development Committee and the Oneida County Board of Supervisors and is reprinted here at the request of the author.

Dear Board Members,

My name is Angie Koch, I am a resident of the Town of Cassian. I am writing to you regarding the proposal which will be coming to the committee for approval for the Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center (ARWC). My home is directly across the road from the proposed facility site. I am for this project. 

I do not support the Resolution the Town of Cassian passed to stop it. I did the research, went directly to the firsthand source. I have a master’s degree with 25+ years of professional work in long term care, healthcare management, parent advocate for youth with special needs and trained as a mental health crisis screener. I have had to reference and continuously research sources and identify credible information. I would never provide treatment or offer resources to a client or parent that was not credible. This is why my decision to support the ARWC is based on concrete information. Not fear or assumptions.

Initially I was against the project. I didn’t know the details and had a lot of questions. In fact, I had created a flier and provided them to as many individuals in my neighborhood. My initial concern was the lack of transparency, the safety of the residents, safety of my family and home.

Around July 20, 2023, Bryan Bainbridge was at the property location. I went over and asked and shared all my concerns with him. These included but not limited to: my home being broken into, trespassing, to youth wandering out in the woods becoming lost, and traffic patterns. Mr. Bainbridge gave me all the time I needed to ask and have questions answered. Additionally, he provided me with his contact information for any future questions or concerns I may have. And, since that time on July 20, 2023, my husband and I have both had questions in which we contacted Mr. Bainbridge. We have always received timely responses.

A voluntary, youth facility will be subject to many licensing regulations which makes it easier for me to realize there is no increase of danger to my family or property than there would be if 10 homes were built on said property. Actually, I feel there will be less of a safety concern with the ARWC being built, due to the stringent regulation and licensing that will be required. Governmental policies and licensing are very complicated, this would be why Mr. Bainbridge did not have all the answers to questions that were asked at the initial meeting.

Another misconception I would like to address in this letter is related to the following statement: “There would be violent offenders in there,” Tom Tiffany said at the July 24 meeting. This statement has created unnecessary fear in the community. Individuals who have substance abuse and mental health needs should not be equated to being “violent offenders.” I am ashamed to live in the district of a representative that would publically make that statement.

These are children who have families that want recovery. They are people who need help because of a medical condition. I am grateful for a facility such as this. If my family member needed the type of care that is being planned, I would want this as an option. Currently the closest option for an adolescent inpatient mental health facility is Green Bay. This does not account for an inpatient program that will help youth with substance abuse disorder.

Yes, our family routine will have to change a little. By that I mean we will have to share and be aware of more traffic, people, and potentially a black-topped road (which I did ask Mr. Bainbridge to not do if at all possible). A positive experience would be my children will be able to be kind and understanding of those who are working at becoming better versions of themselves. The potential of reliable high speed internet and stable power systems is also something that would be beneficial to our family.

Change is hard for everyone, especially when you have owned a home without a main reason for people to travel down the road in the 15 years of living here, but it all is in basing your ideas on facts and not fear.

Please vote yes to allow the conditional use permit application to be granted to Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council for the Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center.

Respectfully,

Angela Koch

Cassian