Additional Title 25 assistance offered

The Hot Springs County Commissioners had a short meeting last week, covering a bid opening and a contract as well as discussing an offer regarding Title 25.

The commissioners opened the bids for a drain project that will be done in conjunction with the roofing project at the Hot Springs County Senior Citizens Center.

The project will require removal of some cement near the north side of the building as well as some of the asphalt in the north parking lot. A drain will then be installed that will take the water from the roof to a drain in the parking lot, eliminating the possibility of a slip and fall due to ice.

The bid was granted to Owl Creek Excavation in the amount of $4,877.50.

With the weather as nice as it is, the commissioners are hoping to get started on the roofing project as soon as possible, wanting to get it completed before the depths of winter.

To that end, they approved a contract with an architectural firm, Nelson Architect, to take care of the roofing plans and other items. The contract is for $11,840.

Frank Robbins, pastor of the Set Free Church in Thermopolis, approached the commissioners offering his services to help with the Title 25 situation between law enforcement and the hospital.

Robbins said he would be more than willing to come to the hospital, if called, to evaluate an arrestee since many are on drugs or alcohol when they are brought in.

“We have a place to keep them for a while, too,” Robbins said. “We can do counseling for them. We do a lot of suicidal counseling.”

Commissioner Tom Ryan told Robbins they appreciated the offer, but he was not sure it would be legal for them to do as the state would have a lot to say about it.

County Attorney Jerry Williams recounted the steps that are taken when a Title 25 patient is brought in, evaluation at the hospital, a 109 hearing in order to hold them, then a 110 hearing to have the person committed if necessary.

Robbins said they have seen people lie in this situation, wanting to do anything to keep from being labeled and to keep the state out of it.

“They trust us,” he said. “They don’t see us as a threat. We’ve just been really trying to think of a way to help.”

Williams said he believes the Set Free Church does a good job and is very helpful, but unfortunately, the state puts a lot of constrictions on law enforcement and the hospital as far as what they can disclose.

“We would like to have you help before it gets to a Title 25 situation,” Williams said. “Many of them need a support system, people checking on them, like a pre-diversion.

“Once an officer says they are detained, we’re limited with what we can do, but if you can get in there before that, to kind of re-route them, that would be great. Early diversion is the best.”

Robbins agreed, saying they need to come together to help a growing portion of our population that isn’t getting the help they need.

“They’re falling through the cracks,” he said. “We get some of those, but we can do more. These people need somebody. Now we don’t have the answers, but we are offering our help.”