Knox County Commissioners on Monday night overwhelmingly approved a services contract and lease for the new Behavioral Urgent Care Center.
The proposed facility would provide treatment to non-violent offenders who are addicted to drugs or suffer from mental health issues.
"We've worked very, very hard on this, and we think this will be a great thing for the community, great thing for the taxpayers," said Knox County Sheriff Jimmy Jones. "But we're ready to get started so we can actually see what the results are."
Only one commissioner voted against the plan on Monday night. Those in opposition don't like where the new facility would be located. It's set to be at 3343 Dewine Road.
"It is people who were going to be taken to jail, and you can spin that any way that you want," said Joshua Johnston, who lives less than a mile from the proposed site. "But if this center doesn't exist, then they are going to jail, but now they're not. They're coming into my neighborhood."
Monday's vote approved a 20-year lease for the Dewine Road property and approved $1.2 million in funding for renovations and up to $600,000 annually to Helen Ross McNabb to run the facility.
"Seven years of being in office, this will have the most impact in our community in a positive way, and it won't be a financial burden," said Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. "It will actually save money."
The city council is scheduled to vote on funding for the center during its Tuesday night meeting. Under the resolution, the city would provide up to $400,000 in funding for the facility's first year and a one-time contribution of $200,000 for building renovation.
The state is also set to provide $1.5 million annually in funding for the center for the next three years.
"We're going to show the community that we, in fact, are building a first rate facility," said Burchett, "and it will be a model for the rest of the state, if not the nation."