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The Winston City Council may ask a judge to determine the ownership of the Riverside Center building at 671 S.W. Main St.
WINSTON — It may take a judge's ruling to determine whether the building housing the Riverside Center remains under the ownership of the treatment program or the city of Winston.
The Winston City Council on Monday could not answer the question of whether the building at 671 S.W. Main St. reverted to city ownership after the center's mental health day treatment program for mentally ill and emotionally disturbed youth closed in January.
“That's a legal question that a court is going to have to decide,” Mayor Rex Stevens told a packed audience.
When the 2.2-acre property on which the building is located was originally deeded in November 1993 to the Adolescent Day Treatment Center of Douglas County, the entity that operates the Riverside Center, the deed stipulated that the Riverside Center provide a diagnosis, treatment and care facility for adolescents.
If the program quit offering those services, ownership of the building — which has a value of $727,000, according to the Douglas County Assessor's Office — would revert to the city.
After the day treatment program ended, the City Council discussed moving its City Hall offices, including the city administration, police department, public works, planning and the municipal court, to the Main Street building.
Officials from the Riverside Center, which continues to offer outpatient treatment and after-school programs, worked to ensure the building remained under its ownership.
Back in September, Councilor Ken McGinnis met with Dan Strasser, the Riverside Center's executive director, and board member David Littlejohn. They reached what they thought was an understanding that the services offered by the center after shutting down the day treatment program still met the deed requirements.
McGinnis later presented the council with several changes suggested by City Administrator David Van Dermark that sought to clarify the center's treatment programs and ensure they meet the deed restrictions.
The Riverside Center's board of directors later rejected the suggested changes, creating another impasse.
On Monday, the council passed a motion directing City Attorney Zack Mittge to take any appropriate steps to resolve the issue over the reversion clause. That motion followed an executive session held Friday with Mittge to discuss the matter.
Littlejohn said he was disappointed by the city's stand.
“If the city wants to see Riverside keep doing what it's doing, why is a judge necessary?” he asked the council.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
The Winston City Council on Monday could not answer the question of whether the building at 671 S.W. Main St. reverted to city ownership after the center's mental health day treatment program for mentally ill and emotionally disturbed youth closed in January.
“That's a legal question that a court is going to have to decide,” Mayor Rex Stevens told a packed audience.
When the 2.2-acre property on which the building is located was originally deeded in November 1993 to the Adolescent Day Treatment Center of Douglas County, the entity that operates the Riverside Center, the deed stipulated that the Riverside Center provide a diagnosis, treatment and care facility for adolescents.
If the program quit offering those services, ownership of the building — which has a value of $727,000, according to the Douglas County Assessor's Office — would revert to the city.
After the day treatment program ended, the City Council discussed moving its City Hall offices, including the city administration, police department, public works, planning and the municipal court, to the Main Street building.
Officials from the Riverside Center, which continues to offer outpatient treatment and after-school programs, worked to ensure the building remained under its ownership.
Back in September, Councilor Ken McGinnis met with Dan Strasser, the Riverside Center's executive director, and board member David Littlejohn. They reached what they thought was an understanding that the services offered by the center after shutting down the day treatment program still met the deed requirements.
McGinnis later presented the council with several changes suggested by City Administrator David Van Dermark that sought to clarify the center's treatment programs and ensure they meet the deed restrictions.
The Riverside Center's board of directors later rejected the suggested changes, creating another impasse.
On Monday, the council passed a motion directing City Attorney Zack Mittge to take any appropriate steps to resolve the issue over the reversion clause. That motion followed an executive session held Friday with Mittge to discuss the matter.
Littlejohn said he was disappointed by the city's stand.
“If the city wants to see Riverside keep doing what it's doing, why is a judge necessary?” he asked the council.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
