Lakeway residents sound off on facility

LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) - Tempers flared and emotions were high in Lakeway on Wednesday night as residents met with City officials to discuss the construction of an addiction treatment facility in their community.

Representatives of the treatment center, Recovery Ways , and members of City Council were on hand to hear the resident’s concerns and to offer information on the center.

The crowd demanded answers as to why they weren’t notified by the city that the center would be built next to a local elementary school.

The City Manager, Steve Jones, got a resounding boo when he addressed what the City should have done differently. “There is a problem in our system. This should have had some public hearings and we’re going to fix that,” said Jones.

The message of a community united was clear -- as some shared personal stories while others threatened to file lawsuits if the center’s location is not moved.

One resident, Gregory Vagsheninan gained applause when he said, “Our children and our older residents are the most valuable in this community and you’ve chosen to place yourself immediately next to both of those. A very unwise choice in my opinion and anybody with the city who was involved in approving this somehow missed the boat."

The center’s representatives said they are willing to work with the community to find a new location, but no resolution has been reached.

While this is a rehabilitation facility, Maryann Rosenthal, Recovery Ways Executive Director wanted to make it clear that the patients who check-in at their location are ready to work.

"We are holistic. We try to treat the whole person. People come to us already detoxed," said Rosenthal.

Lakeway’s City Council will hold a special session on February 17th at 4 p.m.