Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Jan Johnson, of Hackensack, purchased the Backus residence and will oversee the private, for-profit treatment center for nine to 10 adolescent females, ages 12-19, with drug or alcohol dependencies.

Johnson has more than a decade of experience in ownership of a treatment center. Previously she owned and operated Next Step in Staples, Minn. - an adolescent chemical dependency treatment facility for adolescent males. Johnson also owns First Step in Walker, an outpatient treatment program for youth and adults.

Johnson has employees including: Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Rick Peters and Dave Sanderson; Administrative Coordin-ator Kelly Swenson; Program Coordinator Ted Black; Technician Supervisor Daniel Wahl; and several technicians and support staff.

The adolescents at the Backus treatment center will be under supervision all day, everyday, Johnson said. A staff member accompanies them at all times.

The adolescent girls are carefully screened in advance and have had medical physicals. In addition, there will be no sex offenders or violent offenders in the treatment center, Johnson said.

The treatment center will provide individual treatment to the adolescents, as well as group therapy, personal and family counseling, education, psychological testing, coping skills, spiritual enhancement, and leisure activities, etc.

The treatment program includes an outward-bound portion; the adolescents and staff will take field trips and participate in outdoor activities. Most adolescents will remain there between 3-6 months, according to Swenson.

A 6-foot privacy fence will surround the treatment center residence. The center's 8- and 15-passenger vans will be stored within the fence.

The treatment center will educate the adolescents in an on-site school and through online learning.

At the public hearing for the conditional-use permit citizens expressed concerns about parking, neighboring property values and possible noise.

Johnson reassured the audience that visitors to the treatment center can be directed to use off-site parking if necessary; that she runs reputable businesses; and that there won't be excessive noise.

Backus City Councilors voted unanimously to grant the one-year conditional use permit to allow additional occupants in a single-family home. Following one year, Johnson will have to apply for a regular land-use permit, according to Zoning Administrator Denny Newman.

"We still have recourse at the end of the year if things aren't working," Mayor Brad Cairns said.

Also in city council matters:

Shamp's sign OKed

The council approved a conditional-use permit for Mike Shamp to have a Shamp's Meat Market sign at 49 State Highway 371, Backus.

Audit approved

The council heard from their auditor Mark Elliott, CPA, of Bemidji. The auditor said that the audit went well, but he has two concerns. The first is that the city is losing money on the city-owned town homes. He recommended that the city assess the amount of depreciation since they built the town homes.

Secondly, there are individuals who owe the city money due to economic development loans they utilized. There are between 6-7 cases where individuals are not making loan payments to the city, or they are too slowly making payments, Elliott said. All but two of the cases already have liens on the properties. The council authorized that the city clerk send letters to the individuals and let them know that the city can, and will, take legal action if loan payments aren't met.

Garden club recognized

The council also formally recognized Bill Gardner, of Pine River, and the other members of the Pine River Garden Club for their planting and landscaping efforts at the Backus trailside. Gardner donated his labor and equipment to haul in rock and dirt for the project. The Country Garden Center in Backus offered a discount on potted plants for the Garden Club to plant, according to Mim Brien, club president. Club member volunteered their time planting. The club will plant perennials this fall in the garden.

The council voted to offer $200 to Gardner to reimburse some of his expense with the project and to put up a plaque at the garden recognizing the Pine River Garden Club.

Notice sent

The council requested that the city send a notice to Denny Williams of Air-D to correct a leaky valve at the airport fuel tanks per the city's written agreement with him.

City water tower discussed

Wade Jackson, engineer with the city's engineering firm Widseth, Smith & Nolting, reported that South Gate, Mich.-based Tri-Brothers will return to Backus at the end of August or early September to repair the interior coating of the city's water tower and address miscellaneous items on a punch list that need to be completed.

Tri-Brothers was hired by the City of Backus to complete a $130,000 project including exterior and interior recoating of the water tower and draining and disinfection of the interior, plus logo painting and repairs to the well house.

Since then the city noticed taste and odor problems due to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the water. The city contends the that the contractor is responsible to resolve the taste and odor issues with the tower as well as complete the punch list for the project.

Wastewater plan discussed

The council gave Matt Reid, with S.E.H. Engineering, the authority to approve additional soil borings on a site south of Backus - a possible location of a wastewater treatment system. The next steps for the site include a geo-technical investigation of a portion of the site as well as the drilling of monitoring wells to check the ground water levels. And, engineers will check neighboring properties' wells in connection with the project. An archeological assessment of the site needs to be completed as well. The city will also explore the possibility of extending their sewer to Hackensack for treatment. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has mandated that the city address the problem of the failing system they currently have in place.

The council also approved appointing Jack Tesch to the sewer committee.

The council also voted 3-1 (councilor Scott Abbott opposed; councilor Steve Braker abstaining) to cancel a $300,000 purchase agreement for the Martin property - a possible site for a treatment system.

Water leak detection needed

The council also voted to pay a professional detection company $1,400 to check curb stops within the city for possible leaky pipes. There is a 15,000-gallon per day leak somewhere in the system that needs to be located.