By Shawna Gamache 

Edition Date: 07/22/07

 

A long-delayed Treasure Valley detox center could soon get a boost with federal dollars earmarked by members of Idaho's delegation in Congress.

 

Federal spending bills still have a long way to go but could provide up to $400,000 to help with construction or operation costs, accelerating a project that has been in the works for years.

 

The 12-bed center is planned on a parcel of city-owned property along Allumbaugh Street near Barrister Drive. Some of the beds will be used as so-called "sobering stations," where people could let the effects of drugs or alcohol wear off overnight before leaving. Other beds would be used as part of a detoxification center, where people would stay for five to seven days to get drugs and alcohol out of their systems to start recovery from addiction.

 

Organizers in Boise say they are $850,000 away from having all the money they need to build the center on land provided by the city. They have applied for a state grant to cover that.

 

But Reps. Mike Simpson and Bill Sali and Sen. Mike Crapo, all Republicans, have earmarked House and Senate bills to go toward construction costs in case the state grant doesn't come through — or toward operating expenses if it does.

 

The federal money is still tenuous. The Senate bill earmarks $250,000, the House's $400,000. Differences must be reconciled before Congress sends an appropriation bill to President Bush. The legislation could pass as soon as late August.

 

A 2002 Boise State University study proposed the center, pointing out that there is no place in the Valley for people without private insurance to sober up except costly hospital emergency rooms — and jail.

 

Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney proposed building the detox center as part of a planned jail expansion, but then money for that fell through.

 

Since then, the city of Boise has been the major organizer, committing more than $1 million for construction, property valued at $310,000, and up to $240,000 a year for four years for operations. Mayor Dave Bieter also started a committee with representatives of the United Way, both Boise hospitals, state and local governments and various community members to organize more fundraising.

 

Former Gov. Jim Risch and Gov. Butch Otter both tried to fill the construction gap, requesting that lawmakers this year approve the remaining $865,000 then needed. Lawmakers instead set aside $2 million in grants for such projects, and organizers have applied for money from that.

 

The effort is moving forward thanks to many partnerships, said Sally Zive, president of the United Way of Treasure Valley. Having a sobering option besides hospitals and jails will save the community money in the end, she said.

 

"There are a lot of people who are working hard to make this thing happen," Zive said. "Lives are at stake, and so are all of (our) checkbooks."

 

Shawna Gamache: 377-6416