A Minnesota Department of Human Services official who originally described a group home scheduled to open soon in Nokay Lake Township as a “done deal” said Tuesday he would ask Commissioner Lucinda Jesson to rescind the decision.
Roger A. Deneen, director of Minnesota State Operated Community Services, said that had he known there was a day care near the group home site at 20124 Pickeral Lake Road he would have moved on to a different site.
“At this point, that’s her call,” he said, referring to the Department of Human Services commissioner.
After the meeting Deneen said he would ask Jesson to consider putting a stop to the group home opening, which had been scheduled to take place in a few weeks. Asked by opponents of the home what advice he would give them to stop the group home, Deneen advised them to communicate with the commissioner through phone calls and letters. The email listed for Jesson in the Minnesota Legislative Manual is DHS.info@state.mn.us.
About 40 residents, mostly residents of Nokay Lake Township, attended the informational meeting at the Crow Wing County Historic Courthouse and protested plans to open the home.
Kathy Stevens, a Nokay Lake Township supervisor who runs a nearby day care, said the state was taking away the area residents’ quality of life.
“You’re ruining my life,” she said. “This is ... I can’t even say how dumb it is.”
The group home for disabled adults with mental and/or physical disabilities who are in need of assisted care is the result of a directive from the Legislature in response to the closing of the former state hospital in Brainerd. Deneen said three staff members would be on site during the day and two at night.
Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, said he wrote a letter to Jesson asking her to reconsider opening the group home.
Crow Wing County Commissioner Phil Trusty also objected to the group home. He represents District 1, which includes Nokay Lake Township.
“I don’t believe that the setting is the correct one,” he said.
Monty Jensen, a District 1 county commissioner candidate, described the location as “very inappropriate” and accused the state of “shoving this down their throats.”
Luke Simonett, a social services supervisor for Crow Wing County Community Services, said he wished that more information on the group home would have come out earlier.
Deneen said the state is not required to make any notification for a group home of this type. He also said the residents of this group home would not be as “challenging” as the residents of other group homes.
Trusty said he did not know the state group home was a “done deal.” He said there was an opportunity to stop the home and urged county residents to “quit nit-picking about whether the county knew” about the group home.
Crow Wing County Administrator Tim Houle said it was a stretch to maintain the county dropped the ball since the group home was a state-run facility, which was not subject to county zoning. He said the county could possibly have done a better job with community notification of the issue.
Also attending the meeting, although not addressing the crowd, were Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-Cass County, and Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl.
MIKE O’ROURKE, associate editor, may be reached at 855-5860 or mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com. He may be followed at www.twitter.com/MikeORourkenews.
Comments (29)
Add commentO’Rourke reporting is weak or one sided again!
Monty Jensen was the only person to receive a round of applause during the meeting. Because he understands clearly how the government is taking our rights daily and invading our lives. His leadership and willingness to restore the people voice is appreciated!
Commissioner Candidate Jensen Government Trampling on People
This is very interesting about one of the Brainerd Dispatch's non-reporters Mike O'Rourke. Jensen was clearly the most adamant about the local people are not being heard on this issue and they should not be trampled on by the government. I was very impressed by Jensen and his knowledge of how government works or in this case doesn't work for us. Phil Trusty on the other hand apparently didn't know about this? You would have thought that the phone calls of people against this would have alerted him as to something happening. Trusty appears to have been in his sleep like stupor and not even returning phone calls to his constituents that are against this. I am sure Trusty like in other important issues effecting the county "wish(es) that this would all just go away."
O'Rourke, again, another example in a long list of him having his own agenda and slanting the story the way he wants instead of just reporting the facts on what happened. I wish it was on video. How long is the BDD going to allow O'Rourke to discredit their "slanted" newspaper?
Way to go Monty Jensen you were very impressive I hope you win the primary and go on to win the commissioner seat! You got my vote.
direct email
Commissioner Lucinda Jesson's direct email address is lucinda.jesson@state.mn.us and her phone number is 651-431-2907
Where's Sen. Gazelka on this?
It was good to know that Rep. Ward wrote a letter asking for reconsideration. Where's Gazelka? This sounds like it was railroaded on the community and there was very little anyone could do. Our representatives should make sure there are resident notifications and hearings before the state just puts something that may be potentially unsafe for you and your family in your neighborhood? What is the level of risk? Will this potentially affect property values?
I talked with someone who had very young children, that had one of these homes go up across the street from them. And they said that they the state would give them very little information because of "privacy". I think legislators should make sure that people are very informed as to the facts on these group homes. Doing this would allow neighbors and the workers to be more at ease, and make a better working relationship with the homes.
Phil Trusty email: phil.trusty@co.crow-wing.mn.us
Paul Gazelka email: sen.paul.gazelka@senate.mn
John Ward email: rep.john.ward@house.mn
I'm not sure what the big
I'm not sure what the big deal is. We have one of these "group homes" in our neighborhood and I have to say they are pretty quiet neighbors. We never even see anyone in the yard unless they are mowing or sitting on the patio. The home is neat and well kept. They have caused no trouble at all.
There are many group homes in and around Brainerd. With the closing of the State Hospital, the mentally handicapped have to live somewhere. Perhaps the one in our neighborhood is the exception to the rule?
okeydokey ... I was thinking
okeydokey ... I was thinking the same thing after I read the article.
It must be that no one was told what was happening?
O'Rourke's bad reporting ... we need to report
More that O'Rourke doesn't tell you.
http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2012-07-20/proposed-group-home-raises-c...
The residents would be coming from corrections. The residential group home is reportedly planned to house one to four disabled adults with mental and/or physical disabilities. Sheriff Dahl is against it.
Doesn't speak well of Nokay lake people.....
Everything written about the poor people that would be housed in this facility indicates there should be little to be concerned about. Severely disabled people who are NOT criminals. The county knew about this months ago. They even wrote a letter in support of the facility.
100 years ago they'd have the stake and fire roaring waiting to purge themselves of this evil!
Listen Up okeydokey and DiscipleoSin
This home isn’t assisted living for people with disabilities! It’s for criminals that have been released that have been determine unable to reintegrate into society. That’s the problem. The official from the state even said that it could place sex offenders in the group home in the future. Currently they have criminals slated from the twin cities to live at the home. Crow wing county has enough criminals we don’t need to have the state importing them from the cities and placing them in a rural group home by residences with elderly, young families with young children and a daycare!
Johnny Jing's direct contradiction
Johnny says" the disabled residents will be coming from corrections".
The article he linked to--which has the truth--says they will NOT be coming from corrections.
Witch hunt indeed!
Please put the State Group Home near RINO
Sounds like RINO's OK with it. Let's put it next to you. Where do you live??? You would never put something like this close to a children's daycare. Dahl is even against it and thinks it is a bad idea. Please give me the reasons RINO you think this is a good idea.
Proud RINO
Maybe you are the homeowner of 20124 Pickeral Lake Rd and you are just upset that your $2100/month lease is in danger.
The director from the State indicated that if he had known there was a daycare in such close proximity, he would have moved on to a different location....how does this communicate to you that "Everything written about the poor people that would be housed in this facility indicates there should be little to be concerned about."?
Railroading the State Group Home Placement inevitable
Sounds like they already have been doing the renovations to the house. Now that they have spent money it must almost be impossible to stop. The questioning should have happened before it even began. I wonder how the state picked this site? Threw a dart on a map?
Such hatred and irrational fear!
What is it you fear so much, Johnny and lizlemon?
For the record--proudRINO DOES HAVE a group home just a block or so away..and the neighborhood is chock full of kids! You would be surprised how many are right in residential neighborhoods!
We all wave at the disabled people when the employees at this home--and it really is a simple single family home updated for care of a few people-- have them outside when we walk by. Absolutely zero danger to anyone. I have yet to see any information that says anything different about this place either.
"Good paying jobs..."
I'm surprised with Mr.Ward's stance on this issue. In an area that is lacking "living wage" jobs and the State creating just that with this home, only to be welcomed with objections.
decision suspended
Mn Department of Human Services has suspended its move into a Nokay Lake Township group home after protests. Decision is expected by Aug. 8.
There are group homes all over the area and many people could not tell what they are. The state wanted to get rid of the state hospitals and move clients to a more home like atmosphere, but now no one wants them near their home. ?
It still seems like a problem that they did not check the neighborhood more carefully. It sounds like they are listening now. Ms. Stevens is a well respected advocate, she is the Mille Lacs Human Rights Commission award winner and she was involved in the unionize day care action. I am guessing if she has concerns she will be able to get them addressed.
It would have been nice if Mike had talked to Ms. Stevens...
...and asked her how she thought this project was going to ruin her life. Frankly, I don't see how having a home with four disabled adults would harm me at all as the earlier reporting said that the residents would not be coming from corrections.
Is this really about not getting community input? Is it about irrational fear and hatred of the disabled? Who knows? The obvious questions weren't asked and answered.
Now we can all relax.
Now we can all relax.
Narrow minded People
I for one am very offended by the narrow minds some people have about people living in group homes. I have a sister both mentally and physically disabled she is of no harm to people around her. Those with disabiities have a right to live in homes in the community. The few people in the township that are so worried about them should get to know a few people with disabilities. They are some of the most caring and fun people I know. I have also worked in a group home and those living in the group homes cause no threat to anyone. I take this as discrimination against the disabled..I just hope none of these people ever have a family member with disabilities.
group home
Well not in my back yard .You people in nomind lake should look at what god gave you before you step on your disabled brother and sister.Sad day for people who really want to help the disabled.They will find a home and you can go back to your boring and worthless lives.
narrow minded
Narrow minded people like the residents of Nokay lake make me sick, this is nothing more than discrimination against mentally and physically impaired citizens of the united states. The article clearly states what type of residents they will serve. As for you Mr. ward, the same guy that huffed and puffed about helping the unemployment problems in brainerd and surrounding areas, sends a letter discouraging this ? Have you decided to separate yourself from other physically disabled people ? You sir were a waste of my vote, trust me... it wont happen again. Nokay lake, get over your phobia and interact with some of these people, you may just be suprised at how awsome they can be compared to some of your precious residents. Btw i am a proud parent of two " criminal vermin disabled" kids. let me tell you, far less issues to deal with than many, no drugs, alcohol, thieving. i know where my kids are and what they are doing at all times, do you ?
People People People
I hope everybody does realize that Kathy will get her way just because she is wards lap dog. Just like snow said & she should know. It will not be there.
Stevens Human Rights Award Winner?
What is this? Is this another one like the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission joke?
"Ms. Stevens is a well respected advocate, she is the Mille Lacs Human Rights Commission award winner and she was involved in the unionize day care action."
Stevens award winner of what? If Stevens was trying to unionize day care, she gets the blind union zombie award. I question her judgement.
Group Home Open to Criminal Sex Offenders?
No one has been able to get straight answers to some specific questions on this state run group home. They said that possibly this could be a residence for criminal sex offenders. Next to a children's day care and a long way from law enforcement. When asked whether people could see the backgrounds of these individuals? They said no and and their records were "sealed."
Why is the State being so secretive and wishy-washy about answering simple questions. Also, Why won't BDD "biased news reporter" Mike O'Rourke report that this is a central issue to concerned citizens? Things like this discredit the BDD and makes you wonder what else you they are not telling you in the news.
I can understand that there
I can understand that there are concerns about what type of people will be in this home and I can see why you wouldn't want sex offenders or people from corrections moving in without knowing what their crimes are. But aren't those places usually called "half-way houses"?
When they called it a group home for those with disabilities, it sounded like the one in my neighborhood, and we have a daycare about 6 houses down from ours. No problems at all, in fact the daycare parents wouldn't even know it's a group home unless someone told them.
And look at it this way, the house could be purchased by a family of psychos. The neighbors would have no right to know their background, nor would they be able to stop them from moving in. Do we really all know our neighbors that well?
This hype is a cross between not enough information and too much information.
The spectrum is being ignored.
Towpro, proudRINO, hotrod, and bgshwsgrl-
I noticed that all of you mentioned "closed-minds" and "hatred for the disabled" when you referred to the people who live around Nokay Lake. I want to encourage you to pause for a second. My first reaction was- what's the big deal? A group home is nothing to be concerned about. I have been around them and they are good neighbors. But I read the article today that said " steel doors and plexiglass had been installed at the site of the Nokay Lake Group Home" and my perception started to change a little. I no longer think we are talking about the typical group home that is "zero danger to anyone". I have been in a few group homes and I have never seen steel doors and plexiglass over the windows. ProudRINO- Does the home you own have these features? Some have eluded to the fact that there could be sexual offenders in this home and I think that it would be extremely irresponsible to claim that there should be no concern for the nearby children. When we talk about the mentally disabled, there is a spectrum. Many are sweet, kind, and would never hurt anyone, but I think we can agree that unfortunately sometimes there are some that can be unpredictable and violent. I would suspect that if this were the "typical" group home which most of you are referring to there would be no issue in Nokay Lake. It sounds like it is turning out to be something different and I don't think we should bad mouth people, especially if their concern is driven by the responsibility to keep children safe.
Receiving end of narrow minds
Kent ~
Have you been on the receiving end of these narrow minded people? Well as for my family and I we have been on the recieving end. A few of these people that are against the group home are the ones at fault. My disabled sister was 5 years old when these people would not let the school bus come down the road to pick her up. They expected her to walk a mile down the road to the bus and she couldnt walk well. The people that did this to her are the same narrow minds of Nokay Lake. So i feel I have the right to use that terminalogy .
As for steel doors in group homes, both of the private group homes i worked in had steel doors. The doors were meant to keep the residents and non staff out of the med rooms and to keep the residents in the home safe. The doors were not there because the residents were a danger. By the way I have steel doors on my front door and back door, does this make me danger to people?
And Mrs. Stevens Should clean her own doorstep before she tries to clean others doorsteps.