By Tricia Pursell
The Daily Item
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BEAVER SPRINGS — A new drug and alcohol treatment center along Route 522 in Spring Township has provided six jobs to residents from Beavertown, Middleburg and Lewisburg, and officials say that is only the beginning.
Conewago Snyder, a facility owned by Firetree Ltd., based in Williamsport, accepted its first client on Aug. 12, when it also held an open house for the public and local officials in Snyder County.< /p>
When it reaches full capacity, about 30 employees will be needed to run the facility, said Marlene Seguin, director.
There are three clients, with room for 56.
Seguin said they still are in the process of deciphering a number of contracts and making finalizations, and she hopes new clients will be entering the facility soon.
A number of people attended the open house, Seguin said, and she believes for most, if not all, it was a positive experience — a change from about two years ago, when many residents expressed concerns and tried to keep Firetree from coming into the community, fearing just who the facility residents would be and not knowing how secure the building was.
Doug Garrison, chairman of the Spring Township supervisors, said he was neutral on the issue when the talks began, but after seeing the improvements made at the former Beaver-Adams Elementary School building and knowing that jobs will be coming to the area, he said, “I have no objections to it.”
Complaints from residents have just about died off, as far as he has noticed. But it isn’t a dead issue. At the August meeting of the Spring Township supervisors, a Beaver Township resident suggested officials look into organizing a regional police force to take care of additional crime that may occur as a result of the facility.
Allen Ertel, executive committee chairman of Firetree Ltd., said he believes many who attended the open house saw the renovations and learned of the new jobs being filled by local people and realized “that there isn’t any problem with us.”
A bigger problem seems to be with criminals outside the facility’s walls, he said. While the renovations were being made, there were two incidents of burglary, one in which copper piping was stolen.
“Quite frankly, the thieves are on the outside,” Ertel said.
Seguin said she understands what people mean when they say they fear increased crime, but it is probably because they’re not used to the idea of the facility and don’t know how the drug and alcohol inpatient process works.
There is staff at the facility 24 hours a day, and 16 security cameras have been placed inside and outside the building.
“We know where our clients are at all points of the day, and what’s going on with them,” Seguin said.
In addition, “Our clients are here because they want treatment,” she said, adding that they come from referrals through county agencies, not from the Department of Corrections.
Clients may come through any county with which Firetree has a contract with the Drug and Alcohol Commission.
Originally planning to open last summer, Ertel said the project was slowed by regulatory holdups, such as not being able to obtain building permits in a timely manner from local officials and because of a border dispute between Spring and Beaver townships.
While real estate taxes probably will not be an issue because Firetree is a nonprofit organization, occupational taxes will be received by the township in which the land is located.
“As far as we’re concerned, it’s in Spring Township,” Garrison said, but he added that if Beaver Township officials can prove otherwise, it would be open for further discussion.
David Reich, Beaver Township supervisors chairman, did not return a phone call for comment on Tuesday.
Firetree Ltd. spent “well over $1 million” renovating the building, Ertel said. A mandatory new sewer line cost nearly $250,000 alone.
While all codes have been met after a number of sewer, water, electrical and air conditioning improvements, as well as the rebuilding and painting of rooms and a new roof, Ertel said Firetree plans to continue renovations as time goes on. The roads around the building should be paved this week, he said. Landscaping also is planned.
“We try to take good care of things,” Ertel said, “and hopefully be a good citizen.”
With the jobs averaging $10 to $11 per hour, Ertel said the facility is offering stable income for people in the community.
“We will continue to expand our jobs,” he said.
In the future, they will need more drivers, program monitors, counselors and perhaps someone to teach clients how to plant gardens and cook.
