NORWICH – County officials on Monday unexpectedly laid out a number of concerns about the Valley Ridge Center for Intensive Treatment (CIT) facility in Norwich, resulting in a formal request to state politicians and Valley Ridge representatives to separate facts from misconceptions about the facility.

The Chenango County Board of Supervisors unanimously backed the gesture brought to the floor just minutes before adjourning the December monthly meeting on Monday. The motion, made by Plymouth Supervisor Jerry Kreiner, requests that State Senators Tom Libous and James Seward, and State Assemblymen Clifford Crouch and Gary Finch attend a Board of Supervisors’ meeting in February. The purpose of the visit, according to Board members, would be to clarify the function and manner of operation of the CIT facility on County Road 46 in the Town of Norwich.

The same request is also being sent to representatives of Valley Ridge.

The formal request was the result of discussion started by Town of Norwich Supervisor David Law. Law said during the meeting that an incident at Norwich Town Court earlier this month led to the detaining of Valley Ridge CIT residents at the Chenango County Correctional Facility.

“A couple of them made their exit and were caught,” said Law. “They were referred back to the (CIT) facility and the state said we were overstepping our boundaries, so we had to have them arrested and put in the jail.”

Having them in the Chenango County jail is costing local taxpayers money, added Law. He also pointed out that on top of regular costs of inmates, the county is also responsible to foot the bill of medications for inmates. Law also recalled that when the CIT facility was built, county officials were promised by the state that operations at Valley Ridge would not come at a cost to the county.

“I would like to see some of our politicians who are higher up in here for the February meeting, and also someone representing the CIT to let us know what is actually going on,” Law continued. “I feel we’re heading down a road where someone will either be hurt real bad or the county will be stuck with a bill we don’t want. I’m really concerned about this.”