SIDNEY — The Shelby County commissioners on Tuesday, May 29, awarded Westerheide Construction, of Sidney, the contract to build the STAR House here.
Westerheide’s winning bid was for $1,004,200.
STAR House, the Sheriff’s Treatment and Recovery House, will serve as a transitional facility for recovering male drug addicts who are released from the Shelby County jail. It will be constructed on country property, near the jail along Gearhart Road.
According to Chris Monnin, of Garmann Miller Architects Engineers in Minster, the 4,269-square foot building will include 10 sleeping rooms, two offices and common living room, kitchen, laundry facilities and restrooms.
STAR House has been developed as a collaboration of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby County commissioners and the Tri-County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services.
“What we know is that addicts who return to a substance-abusing environment are much more likely to reoffend and return to the cycle of arrest, court and jail,” said Mark McDaniel, executive director of the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services in May. “The STAR House will give those individuals an alternative to that deadly cycle and help them build a life of stability, sobriety, community support and employment.”
STAR House will provide treatment, programming, mentoring and structure to people who are serious about working on their recovery from addiction. STAR House will also assist clients with finding jobs, budgeting, maintaining healthy living and developing life skills. The goal of STAR House is that individuals who have been released from incarceration and have committed themselves to working on living drug-free productive lives will make a long-term lifestyle change and become productive members of the community.
“Shelby County is leading the state and nation with this one-of-a-kind facility,” said Shelby County Sheriff John Lenhart at the STAR House groundbreaking last month.
The STAR House is being built with funds provided by the United Way, Sidney Municipal Court, Shelby County Common Pleas Court, Tri-County Board of Mental Health Services, Shelby County commissioners, Shelby County Counseling Center, Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services and the Sheriff’s Office.
“There is no tax levy to support this project,” said Lenhart.
