Counseling service may get building

Representatives from Southwest Counseling Services will pursue acquiring a donated building to house psychiatric and telehealth services.

During the Sweetwater County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning, the board voted unanimously to tentatively approve a request from Southwest Counseling to pursue the acquisition of a building, which was gifted to Sweetwater County by Jonah Energy for SCS.

Linda Acker, CEO for SCS, said they would like to move the 4,000-square foot modular building to land between their Foothill Boulevard and Ankeny Way facilities.

She said they are pretty much at capacity at the other facilities and this building would help them out. It has enough space for between 12 and 13 offices and two large group rooms.

Acker sought permission from the commissioners to accept the building before talking with the city of Rock Springs about zoning and code requirements. The commissioners made it clear that this was a tentative approval and that Acker will need to come back to the commission for its final approval on the project.

Commissioner Don Van Matre asked Acker if she had spoken with anyone at the county about a space that might work for her.

“We may have something available,” Van Matre said.

Acker said they looked at those options, but they want their facilities to remain centrally located.

Commissioner Wally Johnson told Acker to make sure she has things cleared up with Rock Springs before the building is moved.

“You do not want to go through the whole process until you know what Rock Springs will allow,” Johnson said.

Commissioner John Kolb said he wanted Acker to make sure the moving process is covered by insurance.

Commissioner Randy Wendling wanted to know if this facility would coincide with the SCS’s mission.

Acker said the mission of SCS is to provide behavior health services throughout the county and having more space to provide those services is important.

“It’s not going to be a simple process,” Acker said. “We know that.”

 

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