Carbon County is looking at ways to spend some of the opioid settlement money. However, one potential program request was mothballed for now until further discussion could take place.

Earlier this month, the county commissioners voted down a proposal from Geo Reentry Services LLC of Boca Raton, Florida, for an evidence-based reentry service center that would provide alternatives to incarceration, behavior change programming and help the courts and public.

The company’s website says the core of GEO Reentry’s treatment and training is cognitive-behavioral treatment, intended to change criminal attitudes, enhance social skills and encourage interpersonal problem-solving.

The cost for the three-year proposal was $355,000 for the first year, $365,650 for year two and $376,650 for year three.

Dr. Janene Holter, chief adult probation officer, said the county had asked her department to figure out how to pay for half of the cost, which she said her department has done.

“You asked us to look and we did,” she said.

The commissioners, however, have questions regarding the program, the location and how it would affect current reentry programs already within Carbon County.

“There is some concerns here,” said Commissioners’ Chairman Mike Sofranko, pointing out that the program couldn’t be completely funded through the opioid funds and would therefore fall somewhat on the backs of taxpayers.

He added that while he thinks the proposal is a good idea, questions still needed to be answered before something like this could be approved at this time.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said that the programs already in place with organizations like Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug & Alcohol Commission and the courts seem to be working.

He pointed out that just before the pandemic, the county prison population has dropped significantly, from over 300 to down around 135.

“Something is happening through the courts that’s working,” Ahner said.

He also said he saw duplicate services in the proposal from programs the drug and alcohol commission already provides.

Ahner also didn’t think giving up approximately 2,000 square feet of space for this company in one of its buildings in Jim Thorpe, when county offices are in tighter spaces, was the way to go.

“We don’t have space for everybody,” he said, “and I can’t see giving a nonprofit space in our buildings at this time. ... Not to say this program wouldn’t work. I think we need a lot more information before we start on something like this.”

Commissioner Nothstein added that with the budget as tight as it is, even with money this year being available, doesn’t mean funding would remain for the next two years.

“This opioid money is not going to be there forever and a lot of these programs, if you’re going to continue them, where is the funding going to come from?” he said.

Sofranko said that while the probation office and courts have spent hours on this project, he feels now wasn’t the right time, but maybe in the future, after more discussion, it could happen.

Judge Steven Serfass asked the board to write down any questions they feel weren’t answered already and provide them to the courts for further review.

“Until we have a specific list of inquiries and questions, it is not possible for us to be able to answer questions that are not articulated,” he said.

Holter added that the services of the reentry service center would not overlap with Carbon-Monroe-Pike programs regarding reentry.

“Reentry is to keep people out of prisons and help them have a one-stop shop so that they can come to the county,” Holter said. “Geo came here and presented to all three of you on Aug. 22. You could have asked Geo tons of questions about this, about their structure.”

She added that many questions were answered with a visit to another reentry service center in Altoona.

Sofranko said he understood both sides but things needed to be worked out first before it could move forward.

The board has not had another motion regarding this program proposal on its agenda since that time.