There appears to be confusion as to why some residents of Nokay Lake are opposing the group home on Pickeral Lake Road.
This is not the average group home. These residents cannot function in a regular group home because of their behaviors.
A Department of Human Services (DHS) said that there may be sex offenders housed there.
There are lakes, acres of heavily wooded areas, long response times for law enforcement or Emergency Medical Services due to the location from Brainerd or Crosby.
Doors cannot be locked due to fire code. Sheriff Dahl has expressed his concern due to the location and lengthy response time, which could result in the resident being lost deep in the woods or at the bottom of Pickeral Lake.
Group homes should help residents get back into the community. How can this happen 12 miles from town with nothing in the area but a bar and a hardware store?
I have worked with daycare children with developmental, physical and mental disabilities. I have taught classes for children with special needs for 17 years. My opposition is not because there may be residents with disabilities.
My relative has done very well in a group home within the city.
I am opposed to this group home because of the level of mental illness and violent nature of residents being brought to this rural area from the cities and expected to adjust to a culture and environment totally unfamiliar to them. DHS said that they can go for a walk or bike ride. How does that ready them for society?
What does that do for the safety of the children at my daycare?
DHS already said the location next to a daycare was a mistake. It is an admitted DHS mistake; so DHS fix it!
Katherine Stevens
Brainerd
Comments (2)
Add commentPickeral Lake group home
Thank you for clarifying. Well said.
Discrimination!
Wern't you quoted as stating your life is ruined by this group home yet to be established?
Granted I was not at the meeting but from what I read I did not see DHS state they " may house a sex offender"? Then wouldn't MSOP be involved? I read nothing about MSOP.
There are other state run group homes in rural settings without problems. Staff are trained to deal with behavioral issues if they occur.
People with mental illness are quick to be judged unfairly. It's really unfair when there isn't even one person moving in right now.
You think it's unfair for them to be housed in a rural setting as opposed to a city? Who's to say that these individuals in question did not come from that type of enviroment?
Postive stress reducers is exercise. You object that they may walk or ride bikes in your neighborhood.
I see discrimination from your view point, regardless of your experiences and family member.