LAUREL \u2014 Residents are sharing mixed reactions after they learned where in Laurel a new state forensic mental health facility will be built.<\/p>\n
Hear their opinions:<\/b><\/p>\n
Reactions in Laurel mixed as site is chosen for forensic mental health facility<\/p>\n
\u201cLaurel tends to be a bedroom community of Billings. There\u2019s nothing there that\u2019s not known. And I think that the state wanted it there and wanted it here for that reason,” said Bruce McGee, who lives near the chosen site.<\/p>\n
The state has made its decision to put it on a 144-acre plot of land along Highway 10 just west of town before the intersection with Golf Course Road.<\/p>\n
Reactions to this decision in Laurel remain mixed, and many like McGee and Aaron Easley are indifferent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, we\u2019re all our own people. You might have certain issues, but at the end of the day, it\u2019s all just people trying to get better,” said Easley, who lives near the property.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t necessarily know how good it will be for the community, but I don\u2019t know that it will harm our community in any shape, form, or fashion,” said McGee.<\/p>\n
McGee is also a real-estate broker.<\/p>\n
When asked about home values being affected near the property, this is what he had to say:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might affect some people in purchasing that wouldn\u2019t otherwise because they have apprehensions… but I don\u2019t think it will do anything to property values. I don\u2019t think it will hurt them,” said McGee.<\/p>\n
Those at Quality Auto Repair will be next-door neighbors once the facility is built.<\/p>\n
Some there say they would hope to see it further away.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is just a bit close to town, I\u2019d say. It\u2019s not necessarily a bad thing. It\u2019s not like a prison prison. I don\u2019t have too many quarrels about it,” said one of the mechanics, Colton Devries.<\/p>\n
And parents with children at Laurel schools really wish it were somewhere else.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me personally, just the risk factors of everything. There\u2019s always going to be a risk factor. So, with my daughter still being here in Laurel, it does concern me a little bit,” said Casey Mathes, who also works at the shop.<\/p>\n