Council Gives Initial Ok to Residential Rehab Center on Towers St.
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson County Council kicked off their first meeting of 2025 with a swearing in of a new member, followed by the swearing in of all other members who were reelected for a new two-year term in November. Chairman Tommy Dunn and Vice Chairman Brett Sanders were also reelected to serve another term in leadership on council.
Chris Sullivan took his place as representative for Dist. 1, replacing John Wright, Jr.
Meanwhile, Several downtown Anderson business owners, including Kitchen Emporium Owner Gay McLeskey and City Seed at the Station Owner Donna LeBrun, were on hand Tuesday to express concerns over a proposal to lease part of the county’s property on Towers Street to Love Well, a residential treatment center for women seeking recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction.
The proposal was unanimously approved on first reading, but Chairman Dunn promised meetings between the administrator, council members and concerned business owners and citizens before the third (final) vote on the lease.
“We promise to address your concerns,” said Dunn.
The part of the building at 313 Towers Street is currently being used by the county as the probation and parole office, which will be moved if the new proposals passes on final vote.
The building, built in the 1930s, was the County Agricultural Building for decades. A large part of the building is currently being used by Hope Missions of the Upstate, which is the county’s warming center, works to provide hope and healing to the community by meeting basic needs while seeking specific opportunities to improve individual circumstances. This includes feeding the hungry, providing clothing and shelter, and empowering those in need of help. The Christian organization is an approved 501(c)(3) Non-Profit charity.
The organizations using the building are responsible for upkeep and repairs.
Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns said the Love Well facility would be manned 24-hours by counselors and that the women who would live in the residential facility would not be allowed to leave the facility unsupervised.
“The only way a resident can leave is with a counselor to go to the doctor, an NA/AA meeting or to church,” said Burns. “They would not be allowed to freely come and go from the facility.”
Burns said the relocation of the probation and parole office might actually decrease the number of people in the area around the building.
County Councilman Glenn Davis said he’d received several calls about the proposal, but is convinced the plan will “not push any more people out on the street, in fact it may move people off the streets.”
“I know a lot of people are concerned, but I really think this is a good project for our county,” said Davis.
In May, council approved $350,342 of county opioid settlement funds to Love Well for a residential center program. The program is a duration of four months for each woman admitted with referral from Anderson County Drug Court, Public Defender’s Office, Detention Center, and/or the Solicitor’s Office.
Also on Tuesday, Council also gave final approval to the $35 million bond to be used for construction of the new detention center. Final approval was also given for the $180 million generator for that facility. The bonds for the $82 million facility are being split to offer potential savings for the county.
Chris Sullivan was sworn in Tuesday night as the newest member of Anderson County Council. Sullivan represents Dist. 1.
