Crossroads proposed rehab center, water issues dominate discussions in Pueblo West
Local residents, including Pueblo County Sheriff Dave Lucero, are voicing concerns to Pueblo West Metro District officials as Crossroads Turning Points prepares to build a $5.4 million, 20-bed rehabilitation center in Pueblo West.
The Pueblo West Metro Board on Feb. 28 paved the way for a Crossroads Turning Points rehabilitation center to be built at 355 E. Spaulding Ave. by approving the sale of a 1.5-inch water tap for the new facility. The Pueblo West Committee of Architecture was due to review the building’s plans Thursday, but instead opted to table the issue and forward it to the metro board after hearing public input.
Crossroads hopes to build the center to house its Pueblo Circle Program as soon as 2024. The program offers high-level substance abuse and mental health treatment for patients who have co-occurring disorders.
The Circle Program originated at the Colorado Mental Health Institute, where it operated for about 17 years before closing in 2017 due to a staffing shortage. Crossroads took over the program in 2018 and now runs it out of a 16-bed facility, serving eight men and eight women at its East Evans Avenue location in Pueblo.
Lucero urged the architecture committee Thursday to table the matter, pointing out that he has not received any information about the facility and has concerns from a “public safety lens, understanding there are three schools and a charter school nearby."
"Frankly, it has me worried,” he said.
“I am a proponent of substance abuse treatment and recognize there is a problem, but I don’t yet understand what it could mean to this community. I want to make sure the community is safe,” Lucero said, pointing out he will have to weigh whether he should increase staffing levels in Pueblo West.
At Monday night’s metro district board meeting, Christy Fidura also expressed concerns about the center's potential impact to the community.
“Will the facility be on lockdown? What kind of security will it have? Will it have methadone?” she questioned. Fidura also mentioned she's concerned about the center's close proximity to schools and potential impact on property values.
Metro Board President Kim Swearingen said some of those issues are beyond the metro district's control and "would be under Pueblo County’s jurisdiction.” She pointed out if citizen concerns are not focused on district codes or covenants, the metro board has no authority.
More on Crossroads:Crossroads rehabilitation center coming to Pueblo West after proposed Pueblo site nixed
Christian Heyn appointed interim district manager
In other business, the board agreed to immediately transition Brian Caserta to serve as fire chief and appointed Christian Heyn to serve as interim district manager. Caserta had served in both rolls since May 2021 but announced in February both jobs require “a tremendous amount of work," and he therefore realized the community needs "a district manager who can give 100% of their time to do it."
Heyn has been serving as director of performance and compliance and prior to that was the district’s public works director, a job that wrapped up after Pueblo County took over maintenance of the district’s roads Jan. 1. Heyn will serve as interim district manager until the hiring process is complete.
Water and sewer rate increases pending
In other business, Utilities Manager Jim Blasing announced the district will host a public hearing on water and sewer rate increases. That hearing is set for 1 p.m., April 24, at SonRise Church, 421 E. Spaulding Ave.
Proposed rate increases can be seen on the district’s website at pueblowestmetro.com and are part of a 10-year plan to address growth and the district’s ability to keep up with water and sewer demands. An independent consultant proposed residential customers should pay a 4.3% increase in water rates annually, while sewer rates went up 9.5% in 2022 and should go up the same amount again this year before dipping to a 6.5% annual increase between 2024 and 2031.
In a letter to the board, Pueblo West resident Dena McCrackin said she felt it was unfair that citizens are facing increased water rates when the Desert Hawk Golf Course has an old outstanding water debt of $1.279 million.
The golf course has paid all of its water bills since 2011, so the old water debt accrued prior to that. Desert Hawk is owned by Pueblo County and the metro district after they joined forces through a 2000 intergovernmental agreement designed to save the failing golf course, which had previously been operated by a string of private owners.
More Pueblo West news:Desert Hawk Golf Course owes $1 million in old water debt. Will Pueblo West collect?
Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Substance abuse treatment facility, water issues dominate Pueblo West
