Florida neighbors contest bid for residential treatment facility

Opposition by residents near Tampa, Florida has been raised against the possibility of a residential treatment facility for teenage boys in their neighborhood.  A story in a New Tampa Neighborhood news publication details the problems that Elevated Youth Services faces in seeking to locate a treatment facility that would be home for 12 minor minors with handicaps and disabilities.  EYS is the same youth group home organization that attempted to locate a facility near West Union and was met with opposition by residents there and by Oconee County government.  However, at last report, the Oconee County Council had directed the county attorney to draft and negotiate a settlement and release, along with authorization for the county administrator to “transfer the necessary funds to resolve the claim.”  Asked this afternoon if the matter with Oconee County had been resolved, county administrator Amanda Brock said, “I can’t comment.  Still in process of resolution.”  In Florida, according to the newspaper account, the issue of whether EYS may open a facility in the Quail Hollow neighborhood of Wesley’s Chapel is somewhat clouded, with the matter now referred to a Pasco County planning commission meeting scheduled February 3.