Scioto County Commissioner candidate Keith Crabtree thinks the number of rehab facilities in the area is contributing to other major problems in the county, and he says it’s at the top of his list of things to tackle if he’s elected.
He’s concerned that rehab centers have become a mainstay of the local economy. “All of the other counties around us are sending their rehab patients here to Scioto County. They’re doing that because there’s so many of these that’s coming up now. It’s big money. The problem is that about 85% of these patients will relapse in the first 90 days. When they relapse, there’s nothing to extradite them back to the county that they came from. A lot of them end up staying here. They connect, they become boyfriend and girlfriend, and then they have children. Then you have a crisis with Children Services.”
Crabtree says the number of kids in CPS care in Scioto County is 4 times the average of other rural counties in Ohio. “It’s because of what’s coming into our county, that’s what happens. It’s not that these are bad people. An addiction is not something that can be cured. These facilities are not curing that. They’re creating problems. “I’ve been around a lot of those folks in the rental business. When things start getting bad for them, a lot of them relapse because it’s easier to go back into the facility because everything is taken care of for them.”
Crabtree said he feels rehabs played a part in the recent cuts to mental health services at SOMC as patients are going to rehabs instead of hospitals. “When they go there, it’s almost as if they are being rewarded for it. Once they go in there, they’ve got food, they’ve got shelter, they’ve got all the necessities of life.”
Institutionalized Society
He said we were becoming an institutionalized society with the taxpayer footing the bill for people to be institutionalized. “At what point can we cut that off and say ‘you can go through this, but you can only go through it one, two, three times. But you can’t go through it ten times.”
He pointed out that the county doesn’t receive any federal or state Medicaid funds that pay for rehab treatment. That money goes to the facilities. “So anything negative that comes out of that, like an increase in Children’s Services, or arrests, or overdose deaths, all of that becomes a burden on the county.”
Despite the burden on Children Services, he opposes the idea of a tax levy to fund the agency. He said it was asking hardworking people to fund individuals that came from the counseling centers. “They’re a part of this. What the county is inheriting is the negatives for that. I would not agree with that. We’re paying enough as it is.” He said there were ways of shifting money earmarked for other projects around to use for Children Services.” He did not elaborate on which funds would be shifted.
Stop Importing Weak Links
He questioned why Scioto County had so many rehab facilities when surrounding counties did not. He responded to candidate Josh Lawson saying that “A county is only as strong as it’s weakest link.”
“We need to not bring in a whole bunch of weak links that the rest of the people are trying to carry them through. Nothing in the world against them or the rehab facilities. I’m sure they do some good.”
He also questioned why Commissioner Davis did not do more to head off the CPS financial crisis. “If you see it coming. If your driving down a road and see a cliff getting ready to go over. You better hit the brakes. Things should have been started or put into place.”
Crabtree said the fallout from so many rehab centers also puts a burden on the jail, police officers, and local EMS. “Everyday they are Narcaning people.”
Family History of Service
Crabtree is throwing his hat in the ring for the County Commission seat currently held by Scottie Powell. When Crabtree’s brother, former Scioto County Commissioners Chairman Mike Crabtree, died of COVID-19 shortly after winning re-election in late 2020, the Republican Central Committee selected Powell to fill his shoes.
Now, Keith Crabtree would like to continue the political legacy of his famously outspoken brother. Keith is the youngest of the nine Crabtree children. “Our family has been in Scioto County for generations. Mike loved this county so much.” Crabtree says serving as a commissioner was his brother’s way of giving back to the community he loved.
Not Afraid of Hard Work
Keith says despite struggling with a number of social and economic issues, Scioto County is a great place to live. Crabtree, a 1985 graduate of Northwest High School, has held several jobs over the years, working at the telephone company and even as a nurse’s aide. He worked construction with his brother, Mike, and spent over two decades as a property surveyor working alongside his late brother. He currently owns several rental properties, including the Streich Apartments. Crabtreel says he’s managed to turn the once-troubled apartment building around. “It’s at full capacity.” He says the historical building had deteriorated to the point where demolition was a real possibility. “Now, at this point, I’ve got it full, completely renovated. It’s really nice.”
He says others had the opportunity to buy the building but walked away because of the amount of work involved. However, he says the Crabtree family is hardworking and willing to do what they have to do to get any job done.”
One of his primary goals is to make the county better for his children and grandchildren. “I want them to be proud of where they live.”
The candidate says he’s confident he’ll work with whoever is on the commission to get things accomplished for the county. He pointed out his brother was elected twice as a Democrat and three times as a Republican. “You have to be able to sit down with people and get along. This county needs that.”
Crabtree said he would also prioritize hiring local labor for future construction projects in the county instead of going with the lowest bid. “We need to look at making sure they get a fair bid process.”
He also questioned why Commissioner Davis did not do more to head off the CPS financial crisis. “If you see it coming. If you’re driving down a road and see a cliff getting ready to go over. You better hit the brakes. Things should have been started or put into place. If you’re elected, you need to come in there and give them all you got. That’s what people expect of you.”