Agency official: federal grant could fund centralized mental‑health hub

An agency official urged the county to consider applying for a federal mental‑health grant that could fund a central hub for local behavioral‑health services. "That second one would really help build a mental health center hub," the official said, adding it could consolidate four or five therapists who are currently dispersed around town.

She said the grant's purpose includes reducing burdens on law enforcement when crises occur: "the mental health grant is actually aimed specifically to help ease the burden of... law enforcement have to face because... when there's not a mental health center and a crisis occurs law enforcement have to go out to it." Committee members expressed interest in the idea but asked for more details on staffing, space, and application roles.