LANSING — Dozens of Northern Michigan projects could be funded in this year’s state budget, including a $35 million Grand Traverse County adolescent treatment facility.
Kristyn Brendel, Grand Traverse County’s Family Court administrator, says our area lacks a facility to properly treat juvenile offenders with mental health conditions.
“We essentially have nowhere for them to go,” she said. “And so unfortunately, we have been having to send youth downstate or out of state.”
Brendel says the need is even greater due to the closing of the Shawono Center in Crawford County earlier this year.
“This has become a crisis,” she said. “We’re spending all this money out of state. We’re spending money downstate. We don’t — this isn’t good for our families.”
Grand Traverse County and other requesters are hoping the funds will be provided in the annual state budget process.
“If it doesn’t happen and we don’t get the funding, of course, we’re going to keep trying,” Brendel said. “The kids aren’t changing. We still need these placements for them.”
State Rep. John Roth, (R) District 104, Interlochen, says requests for projects like the youth treatment facility would help fill what are currently underserved needs in the region.
“Youth who have to be detained — there’s nothing available, including the UP,” Roth said. “So we are lacking big time.”
Northern Michigan received requests for about $420 million in funding, $266 million of which were made by Roth across 29 projects.
Roth says the region stands a better chance of getting its fair share this year, with greater public involvement in the request process.
“They’ve been ignored. They have not gotten much at all in the budgets over several years,” he said. “So there are needs now. As we ignore these communities, they need to be represented and have their voice heard of what kind of things they need in the area.”
Roth also says he’s expecting not to have all of his requests granted, but he says he’ll continue to push for the necessities.
“We will fight for everything we ask for in every community,” he said. “The real need up here is water, sewer and roads. So that’s going to be my top priority.”
We won’t know which projects will receive funding until the budget is passed in late June.