Commissioners discuss security concerns at Lighthouse

WORLAND – Washakie County Commissioners heard concerns from the county Maintenance Department, after damages to the Lighthouse facility, due to a violent episode from an out-of-county patient in April.

The seven-bed Lighthouse center run by Cloud Peak Counseling, houses almost 70 patients per year, per average, from Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, Fremont and Washakie counties. A 2017 expansion brought more room the facility, with a social detox and high risk area, at a total cost of $97,000.

Currently, under Title 25, patients entering the Lighthouse for care are assessed for possible risk (suicide or self-harm) or alcohol or drug abuse, and held until they have been stabilized or released by court order.

In April, a violent Fremont County patient did considerable damage to bathroom and holding facilities at the center, including dismantling a toilet to use parts as a weapon. The patient has since been transferred from the facility.

Due to the incident, the Lighthouse is requesting security upgrades, although the county needs to reevaluate the cooperative agreement and meet with Lighthouse staff before going forward.

“I think we are looking at a situation here where we weren’t sure what to expect, so we need to reevaluate how things were built and see if we can’t work together to get closer to what we need,” remarked Commissioner Aaron Anderson.

In 2016, law enforcement and health officials from neighboring counties discussed the cost effectiveness of maintaining Lighthouse as an alternative to sending patients to the Wyoming Behavioral Institute (WBI) in Casper and it was pointed out that per diem spending on patients at Lighthouse was approximately half of that at WBI, at $325 per patient compared to $750.

Fifth Judicial District Court Judge Robert Skarr noted that it was worthwhile to expand, for neighboring counties to use, because Lighthouse offers the court a choice over both WBI and the State Hospital for patients under court ordered for treatment.

Due to the most recent damage, County Attorney John Worrall warned that the facility could easily become a “dumping off point” for neighboring counties, and noted that from a county standpoint, it’s perfectly acceptable to send Fremont County a bill for the damages.

In other commission business, the county debated a plan to utilize available lime and brine to combat county road dust, while avoiding more costly alternatives.

The county plans to experiment with the mixture on a 1.6 mile stretch of County Road 54, and if it works, may continue in other parts of the county.

“If we can find some benefit, we can do it on a grander scale,” noted Anderson, while Commissioner Fred Frandson suggested the county check with Johnson County on their current procedures.

During ongoing budget cuts, dust control measures around the state are looking at more economic solutions than previous, costly measures such as heavy saturation with professionally-produced magnesium chloride (a commercial compound made of brine and lime).

Also during the first May meeting of the commission, concerned Washakie County resident Lynette Swing addressed the board, requesting solutions to the lack of home health care or hospice services in the county.

While the county currently has no facility or budget for the programs, neighboring counties utilize private corporations for the services.

The commission recommended Swing solicit those corporations to open in Washakie County, or work with the Washakie Medical Center to form a committee to recruit those services to the area.