BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. — Bradley County commissioners have voted to oppose a new push from the state to build new Moccasin Bend Mental Health facility in the area.
That’s according to a Facebook post from Mayor Garry Davis.
Mayor Davis says the county was informed last week that the State of Tennessee is actively considering property near the landfill off Exit 20 for a new state-run mental health facility.
The existing Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute in Chattanooga. Image: NewsChannel 9 SkyView.
That survey found 73% of the existing state-owned parcel at the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute is comprised of a multi-component archaeological site containing buried layers of historic and pre-contact materials.
Mayor Davis says this new proposal to build a facility in Bradley County is being driven at the state level.
“Neither I nor anyone in Bradley County Government recruited this project, requested it, or was consulted about this site in advance. In fact, recent discussions at the local level about this property were based on information that it was being pursued for commercial and residential development.”
While Bradley County officials have been told that the location near the landfill is strongly being considered, Mayor Davis says there has been no official final decision or public announcement from the state.
Bradley County Landfill on Google Maps.
“I fully recognize that mental health care is a serious need in our region and across Tennessee. Our community has seen firsthand the consequences when people struggling with mental illness and addiction do not have access to the help they need. We cannot ignore that reality. At the same time, location matters. Any facility of this type must work not only for the patients it serves, but also for the surrounding community. We have real concerns about the suitability of this particular site in terms of impact on nearby neighborhoods, roads and infrastructure, emergency services, and our existing medical resources. Meeting mental health needs and maintaining community safety and confidence should not be competing priorities. Both have to be part of the conversation,” Mayor Davis says.”
On Monday, Mayor Davis says the Bradley County Commission voted unanimously to oppose placing this facility at the proposed site in Bradley County.
I While we understand that this vote is ultimately a statement to our state partners and not a binding decision, it sends a clear message about where our community stands… We can support better mental health care in Tennessee while also insisting that any decision made here is the right one for Bradley County.”
Senator J. Adam Lowe also commented on the proposal, saying…
“The TDMH met with us to share interest in the site. At that meeting, we advised they meet with the district county commissioners and members of the McDonald community first. We noted that this likely wouldn’t be desired.”
Senator Lowe says he, along with other reps, told TDMH about the landfill’s history and expressed concerns over losing taxable property for the county and concerns with the curves in the road.
The proposed land is also privately owned, which Senator Lowe says puts an additional roadblock in front of the state.
“This does not change our growing mental health issues and eventually, we will need solutions. I hope TDMH can find a suitable site that can still serve our loved ones in Bradley seeing as we are in the top 10-15% of counties with growing mental health cases. Even though this project might not be a good fit, everyone needs to come together for solutions and we need to soon.”