The Carlsbad City Council signed off on a lease agreement between the City and Avalon Ranch a facility that provides substance abuse treatment for women with children, according to City Council documents.
The Council approved the amended agreement Tuesday night for the residential treatment facility at 106 North Mesquite Street, documents read.
City of Carlsbad Attorney Denise Madrid Boyea, in a memo to councilors, said the City received two capital outlay grants from the New Mexico Legislature totaling $678,000 to design and construct the facility.
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She said the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) would not proceed with the grant money until the City had an agreement for the construction and operation of the facility.
“The City has an agreement for the development and use of property for the facility,” Boyea wrote in the memo.
She said the agreement was contingent upon the City’s receipt of the grants.
“The City and Avalon Ranch worked together to select a property and then renovated an existing structure which is now complete,” the memo indicated.
Boyea said since construction or renovation was complete, an amended agreement was needed to lease the facility to Avalon Ranch.
The agreement states Avalon would have to pay the fair market rental value of the facility which would be determined by a qualified appraiser.
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Avalon Ranch is being managed by Carlsbad LifeHouse, which is a nonprofit rehabilitation program.
“We’re now at the point to start accepting clients,” said Woods Houghton, chairperson of the Avalon Ranch board of directors.
LifeHouse Executive Director Philip Huston said the non-profit offers sober living programs.
“We’ve inherited an exceptional staff. Which will help the outcome. Between the facility and the staff we feel this will be a great benefit,” Huston told councilors.
Avalon Ranch Executive Director Kim Rogers said her passion is helping children and their families impacted by substance abuse.
“I can’t express to you how much the community is going to enjoy that facility,” she said. “We have a wonderful staff that we are building.”
Rogers said daycare facilities will be available for children at Avalon Ranch.
“It’s a wonderful adventure for Carlsbad,” she said.
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Rent for the facility could be paid in cash with services, Boyea said in her memo.
“Or a combination of both cash and services,” the memo stated.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
