Sarpy County Announces Plans to Purchase Land for New Mental Health Center

The Sarpy County Board of Commissioners has approved a $1 million land purchase for a new mental health stabilization center.

The decision was made this week to combat what the board called an “unmet mental health crisis.” The facility would serve to divert people experiencing mental health crises from the county jail, which has been the default place for mental health treatment.

Jim Warren, who is the District 5 commissioner in Sarpy County, said the treatment of mental health in the county has reached a crisis level and that it was time for the Board to take action.

“Our county attorney, our public defender, has said this is probably at that crisis – if not beyond – stage; not just in the state but here in Sarpy County," Warren said. "What the commissioners have done [is] what I think the politicians have been afraid to do in the state, [which] is look for ways to address the issue.”

The county has 120 days to secure finances for the land purchase, and Warren said they hope to design and construct the mental health center within three years.