Milan residents express concern with proposed rehabilitation center
MILAN, Tenn. — Many residents showed up at Milan’s routine city meeting to discuss alternatives for rezoning in hopes for a better solution in the best interest of children.
During Milan’s routine city hall meeting, many residents came expecting to hear more on the Alliance Staffing Group rehabilitation establishment expanding their services in hopes of taking the place of a previous assisted living facility adjacent to the Christian learning center housed in the First United Methodist Church in Milan.
Some community members have concerns about the safety measures that may put local residents in the area at risk due to the proximity of the establishment and the scope of clients that use alliance services.
Owner of Alliance Staffing Group, David Webb, tells us this is not a halfway house.
“The purpose of this meeting today was really to educate everyone on exactly what the program is. We do not house violent or sex offenders. These men have low crime rates. They’re just men trying to get back on their feet for second chance opportunities for men that are rebuilding their lives,” said Webb.
We spoke with Joshua Arnold who has the property under contract with the hope and intent that the Alliance Group will be able to occupy the space.
Arnold withdrew his R3 rezoning request designed to represent a shift in land use from lower-density or non-residential use. Arnold believes it to be the same type of land use due to the fair housing laws under the Americans with Disability Act.
The reason for this is because the facility is aimed to be used in the same way as the previous assisted living facility.
“We do intend on purchasing the property of the building with the intent of the Alliance Group to be able to occupy,” said Arnold.
President Katelyn Young, on Parent Board for the Christian Learning Center, is concerned that housing individuals that close to their children may not be the best decision in regards to potential risk.
“Just this last week someone that was a resident of theirs that was in their custody was released from them, and in less than 24 hours he was inside of our town being violent against our first responders. That scares us that something like that could happen that close to our facility,” said Young.
Young tells us they feel there is a better place for this initiative that doesn’t put their most vulnerable youth at risk.
“We would love to support this establishment somewhere that is not direct vicinity to our children especially such young children. These kids are all under the age of five,” said Young.
The Alliance Group reassures us of their seven year track record of positive involvement in the community, and are planning to set up a public info meeting in the near future with an announcement to be made in the mirror exchange newspaper.
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