Mandy Feder–Assistant managing editor
LAKEPORT–What began as an acrimonious union between Anderson Springs residents and Hilltop Recovery Center ended with handshakes instead of fists.
The Board of Supervisors met Tuesday afternoon with community director Rick Coel, Health Department representative Jim Brown, environmental health director Ray Ruminski along with residents of Anderson Springs facing Ryan Runyon, Lori Carter-Runyon, Dr. Robert Gardner of Lucerne Community Clinic and others in-support of Hilltop Recovery Center.
Anderson Springs residents expressed concerns of contaminated ground and surface water coming from the only residential recovery center in the county. But the looming undertones denoted a sense of fear of the program.
While Coel, Ruminski and Jim Brown assured the Anderson Springs residents that ground water would not be compromised by Hilltop”s facility or practices, residents remained skeptical, many scoffed and made derogatory remarks in whispers from their seats.
Lori Carter-Runyon explained at the podium that Hilltop Recovery Services differed greatly from the previous business, Personal Support Group (PSG). It became apparent that Anderson Springs residents had a valid axe-to-grind with PSG.
PSG held many more residents than Hilltop, according to the Runyons. At present, 49 beds are occupied, 70 percent of which are housing Lake County residents. The facility is housing five residents without reimbursement, all from Lake County. The screening process has also seen some major modifications since the Runyons took over. Sex offenders, violent offenders and those with extreme mental health issues are no longer considered as possible residents of Hilltop.
“We are focused on quality of care, not quantity of residents,” Lori Carter-Runyon said.
A resident of the Anderson Springs community shared an account of a man who left the recovery center last year, Jeffrey Miller allegedly stalked governor Schwarzenegger and in his wild rampage ended up in her yard as she waited two hours for police to respond, while the man paced her property in an apparent psychotic rage.
Board member Anthony Farrington inadvertently lightened the mood by saying “We”re not going to have high-caliber people at the recovery center. We”re not going to have Paris Hilton or Britney Spears.”
Farrington later explained that addiction crosses all socio-economic boundaries. The same sentiment was exemplified by a resident of Hilltop named Matt, who is a recovering alcoholic who received his Masters degree in San Jose and is a professional planner for local government.
As speakers from each side stepped up to the podium, the defensive tone lulled.
Concerns were voiced about the swimming pool at the Hilltop facility and the chlorinated water. Ruminski responded to the issue explaining that there was not a risk to surface water involved with the pool.
It was agreed that ground water testing was no longer necessary, but surface water testing was still a valid issue, but monthly as opposed to weekly, as it has been done to date. An independent contractor will do the testing and an agreement will be reached between Anderson Springs and Hilltop with a county facilitator.
Ryan Runyon and Lori Carter-Runyon offered their personal cell phone numbers to Anderson Springs residents in an attempt to mend the broken bridges of the past with PSG. The gesture was welcomed by the approximately 12 people who attended from Anderson Springs.
Issues of safety and trust will be held for future meetings. In the future county supervisor Ed Robey voiced a desire to see statistics of the success rate of Hilltop, a non-profit organization located at 10155 Socrates Mine Road in Middletown. The Runyons agreed to supply the information.
Smiles replaced sneers after more than two hours of hashing out details on water tables, wells, contractors and clients.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mfeder@record-bee.com.
