CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Discussion about a first-of-its-kind in West Virginia drug-alcohol stand alone treatment center was taken off the Kanawha County Commission meeting agenda Thursday night after the group said it now plans to have community meetings.
Those with the T-Center were set to appear before the commission and talk about possibly obtaining a $200,000 allocation as seed money but that’s now on hold.
The T-Center idea now finds itself in a controversy after the Kanawha County Board of Education donated property for the center near Capital High School. The school community is concerned about the impact.
County commissioner Dave Hardy said the situation needs addressed.
“You never want to have a project of this magnitude tainted at the beginning by controversy,” Hardy said. “This community needs to understand the project, needs to support it. It’s something that needs to be embraced by everyone.”
Hardy said he’s afraid some residents are reacting negatively to the T-Center without full information. The T-Center announced it would be scheduling some public meetings.
“If the project becomes tainted it won’t have the support it needs,” Hardy said.
The county school board may take up the issue again. Hardy said the county commission doesn’t need to get involved right now.
“The commission certainly doesn’t want to get in the middle of a controversy between the school board and Capital High,” he said.