Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jan 2005
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2005 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact: 
http://gotricities.net/domains/timesnews.net/lettertoEditor.dna?action=new
Website: http://www.timesnews.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
Author: Walter Littrell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

PENNINGTON TO REVOKE BUSINESS LICENSE FOR
METHADONE CLINIC

PENNINGTON GAP - Pennington Gap leaders continue to mobilize in an effort 
to stop a methadone clinic from locating in their community, and on Friday 
Town Attorney Donnie Williams was preparing to notify the company involved 
that the town is revoking a recently issued business license.

The attorney said he is also checking with agencies and other 
municipalities across the state in hopes of finding an effective tool to 
prevent the clinic from locating in town.

Williams said he has notified the town manager to revoke the license and 
refund the company the $30 fee it paid Tuesday to obtain the license.

"I am in the process of preparing a letter to the company, that I hope to 
get out today, advising them we are suspending the license and requiring 
them to provide proof that they have proper approval to operate such a 
business in the commonwealth of Virginia," said Williams.

CRC Health Group, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., obtained a town 
business license Tuesday to locate the clinic in the former Pennington Gap 
Rural Health Clinic on Maple Street. The following day, the Lee County 
Industrial Development Authority obtained an option on the building with 
hopes of locating a call center there. But a CRC representative said the 
company will continue efforts to locate another facility.

Mayor Jimmy Smallwood said he is opposed to the clinic locating in his town 
and believes now his constituents will see a need for some type of zoning.

"This came up really fast and caught us all off guard. We have no plans for 
zoning, but we need to plan to make plans because we need to get something 
in place in a hurry," he said. "We've been fighting dope in our town for 
some time now, and we've kind of got the gangs off the street. We want to 
keep it that way."

Williams said he is not sure zoning would stop a methadone clinic because 
such facilities dispense narcotics like hospitals, doctor's offices, 
pharmacies and other health-related businesses.

"It would be hard to block a methadone clinic and not block hospitals, 
pharmacies and such," he said.

The attorney said many jurisdictions across the state are facing similar 
circumstances, so he has contacted the Virginia Municipal League and the 
Local Government Attorney Association to find out what other localities 
have faced this situation and what they've done to prevent establishment of 
methadone clinics in their communities.

Smallwood said he may call a special meeting soon to begin working on 
zoning laws. Williams said he has discussed that issue with the mayor, and 
he believes the Town Council should hold off on a called meeting until he 
hears something from the VML.

The attorney said he is also working with state Sen. William C. Wampler Jr. 
and Delegate Terry Kilgore on the issue, as both have legislation pending 
in the General Assembly. This legislation may or may not help with the 
town's situation, he said, admitting, "We're really sort of up against it 
on this one."

Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons said he too is opposed to the clinic and 
will do what he can to help the town.

"On behalf of law enforcement, we're opposed because we're not convinced 
that methadone is effective in getting people off hard drugs. It appears to 
be a substitute. I fear it will bring a bad element into the county," he said.
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