The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave the go ahead to Colusa County Behavioral Health to pursue plans to develop a westside campus in Williams to provide mental health and other services.
A plan to provide services on the westside of the county has been a longtime goal of District 3 Supervisor Kent Boes, who represents the Williams area.
“Full disclosure, I have been anxiously awaiting this topic” Boes said. “I’m pretty excited about it.”
Colusa County Behavioral Health Director Tony Hobson said county department heads have realized there is a need to provide people in the western portion of the county better access to services.
“It is a bit of a stretch for people to come into Colusa for therapy in our department and any auxiliary service that we offer,” Hobson said. “The idea, then, is to
Williams establish a wellness center in the community over there with an array of services. All of our departments interact very well together and we serve the same folks.”
Colusa County officials have looked at a number of available properties for sale, but, absent the cash, the county hopes to use the county health department property next to the Colusa County Migrant Center.
Hobson said the property is available and would provide the space needed for the county to provide some services.
The Board of Supervisors gave direction during their regular meeting on Tuesday for Behavior Health to expend mental health funds for further research for engineering and architecture costs.
“If the project moves forward, the county’s matching contribution would be the land,” Hobson said. “It would certainly give us the ability to offer more services there. We just need to take the next step.”
The Board of Supervisors gave direction for county staff to initiate the request for proposals for professional services, which will be paid for from state mental health funds.
The planning process could take three years, Hobson said.
“I think it’s a great idea as a way to benefit our citizens on the other side of the county,” said Supervisor Daurice Smith. ■