GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – City leaders in Green Bay have decided to delay a decision on a new east side psychiatric hospital project.
The city council debated for over two hours Monday night on Strategic Behavioral Health’s $10 million facility to be built on Ontario Drive in the I-43 Business Park.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the people and the access to care and that’s why we’re here,” Strategic Behavioral Health’s Mike Garone said, according to FOX 11.
The Tennessee-based company says its 72-bed, for-profit hospital would fill a need for inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment.
However, Bellin Health, says it consistently has 40 open beds at its psychiatric hospital. Bellin President George Kerwin told the council the real need is for psychiatrists.
“It would be on the negative side an insult and a slap on the face to every organization that is providing those services in the community today,” said Kerwin.
Some aldermen signaled support for Strategic Behavioral Health, pointing out its plan calls for 200 new jobs. They also like the company would buy 10 acres of land from the city to build the hospital.
“Let’s snatch this up before our competitors do,” Alderman Randy Scannell said. “It’s a competitive market.”
In the end, by an 8-4 vote, the council decided it needed more time to look at the issue.
“Debate is healthy,” said Chris Wery, an alderman. “If we are all singing the same tune, something is wrong there too. We need people to speak up and say hey hold on, let’s look at this closer.”
Strategic Behavioral Health made no promises it was willing to wait on the council.
“I can’t commit that we’ll still be here, but I can commit we will be talking to other municipalities,” said Garone. “I think that’s a fair assessment.”
The preliminary plan is to take up the issue again on April 8th.
(Additional reporting from FOX 11)
