Olmsted County Closes Rochester Rehab Center Amid Nuisance Claims

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Olmsted County took action on Wednesday to shut down a local chemical dependency treatment facility.

A news release says the county has revoked the public lodging and food and beverage licenses for the Oakridge Treatment Center in Haverhill Township. The statement says the action was "due to continued concerns about the safety and well-being of individuals in the facility and neighboring communities."

Earlier this month, the Olmsted County Public Health Services Advisory Board voted unanimously to declare the treatment facility a public health nuisance. A news release says the declaration cited concerns that were identified by officials in various county departments, including the Sheriff's Office, Attorney's Office, Adult and Family Services, and Public Health Services.

County officials say the list of concerns about the facility included a disproportionate number of reported drug overdoses. It also listed the number of calls for service to the facility and additional pending investigations.

“The continued failure to mitigate these concerns jeopardizes the health and safety of the vulnerable adults served by the facility and Olmsted County’s community members,” said Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office Captain Tim Parkin.

The revocation of the various licenses requires the operators of the Oakridge Treatment Center to find new housing for its clients by next Monday.

Olmsted County can assist individuals with substance abuse disorders in finding treatment options. A comprehensive assessment is available by contacting Olmsted County's Adult Behavioral Health Intake line at 507-328-6558 or by emailing abhi@olmstedcounty.gov. Olmsted County also has a list of substance abuse resources available in the community.