Many residents at Vale Lifeways meeting vote with their feet
At issue is proposal to build a mental health facility near city

By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 10:18 AM PDT

Vale — An informational meeting to discuss a proposed Lifeways secure residential facility for the mentally ill proved to be an ordeal for some Vale residents after they felt their concerns were not addressed and they walked out of the session held Monday night at Vale City Hall.

One resident, Lorraine Day-Kuzman, said she felt Lifeways Executive Director Greg Schneider “did not care” about residents’ safety concerns regarding the facility. She said she felt the 6,528-square-foot, eight-person facility would just be built anyway, regardless of what city residents thought about the plan.

Schneider said residents will secure another opportunity to express their viewpoints at a public hearing before the Vale Planning and Zoning Commission in early November. The planning commission has the ability to vote down the zoning variance linked to the Lifeways proposal.

Schneider also said most communities refuse to have a secure residential facility built in the area, but these facilities are needed. He also said people with serious mental illnesses live in local communities without adequate supervision, now.  Vale resident Roy Campbell said, while he had “done a lot of soul searching” and felt the facility was a good thing, there was no way he would be able to feel safe if the facility were built near his home.

Schneider countered Campbell did not have those assurances currently in his community. Campbell said he felt safe because he believed neighbors watch out for each other.

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Schneider said he believed the $800,000 facility was important because of the needs it would serve.

“Many of them don’t have the wherewithal to care for themselves,” he said of the patients.

Schneider also conceded four of the residents in the facility will have crimes in their past. One area resident said he believed that makes them criminals.

“By your definition, yes,” Schneider said. “But, by your definition, wouldn’t that make anyone who has ever committed a crime in their life a criminal?”

The resident said he believed it would. After the meeting, Day-Kunzman said she was concerned because Schneider said he did not inform those in attendance what crimes the patients had committed. Schneider is unable to release criminal and medical histories because of state and federal laws prohibiting such disclosures.

Vale resident Rosanne Lang asked why the planned facility should be situated in Vale.

“Why is it an advantage to have it built here?” she asked. Schneider said Lifeways had searched throughout Malheur County, and the proposed area was ideal because of the price, location and access to utilities. He also said Lifeways would hire 14 people to serve the facility’s patients. However, Lang was not convinced the money would stay in Vale.

“(The 14 employees) will just go to Ontario to spend their wages,” she said.

Day-Kuzman said she still did not believe the facility should be built in Vale, asserting there are a lot of places in Ontario to build.

“There’s not a lot of places in Ontario,” Schneider countered.

Vale resident Dan Johnson expressed concern about the potential facility’s placement, asserting it would leave room to expand. He said he did not believe the facility would stay its proposed size.

“First, why don’t you trust me?” Schneider asked. “And second, we’re going to build an eight-bed facility, and that’s it.”

Schneider said residents in the facility would learn how to cook and do laundry and would be allowed to go into the community when supervised.

“Small groups,” he said. “Just a couple of folks that may go out.”  Residents also expressed concern for the community, asserting the property values would go down. Again, Schneider said they would not because of the property value of the development going into the area. Residents countered Vale property values do not change at the same level as other cities, and most people would not want to live near such a facility. Schneider said he believed the proposed structure would resemble an assisted-living facility.

However, one resident countered the large vinyl fence encircling the property would convince people otherwise.

Throughout the meeting, residents said they did not feel they were being heard.

“You don’t care how we feel,” Johnson said. “Do you see what I’m saying?”

Schneider reiterated, however, the concern is a common one.

“I hear your concern,” he said. “I understand your concern. Every community is going to express concern.”

Many of the audience members had already left Vale City Hall, however, by that time and did not hear the comment.