(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, this (Tuesday) morning, continued previous discussion, with regard to a lease agreement for the County-owned Willow Heights building located about two-miles west of Atlantic. Board Chair Steve Baier shared they must comply with the Iowa Code with regard to the facility being used as a Residential Treatment Facility (RTF).

Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, we learned today, is interested in leasing the building, because their current building lease expires at the end of June, 2026. Zion Director Billie Butler said they are looking at other options for their residential substance abuse and disorder facility and services, and Willow Heights fits the bill.

ZION Integrated Behavioral Health Services, Inc. is a non-profit corporation formed in Southwest Iowa in 1973 to assure delivery of services for substance use disorder treatment and related problems to six (6) counties. These counties include Adair, Cass, Dallas, Fremont, Montgomery, and Page. Their headquarters is located in Atlantic. Steve Baier said the general consensus of the concerns he’s been hearing about the proposal, are with regard to operational procedures and the individuals who are voluntarily treated there and the level of their commitment to treatment. Billie Butler addressed the latter concern.

Zion Recovery Services Director Billie Butler (pictured on the right) addresses questions about Willow Heights as an RTF

She said a lot of the people they work with have job and families, who simply want treatment for their addictions so they can lead a better life free of addiction.

Those individuals will be there for at least 30 days, she said, depending on their level of treatment. Wendy Richter said the facility will not house violent criminals. Zion would assume responsibility for the building’s maintenance and upkeep. Richter said a lot of the rumors and concerns about the building are unfounded.

And, Supervisor Mark O’Brien addressed concerns about mold in the building.

Billie Butler said the State will conduct regular building inspections to make sure the facility meets the permit requirements. If the lease is approved, it would become effective December 1^st, 2025, but it would not immediately by occupied by staff and residents until repairs and/or updates are completed. No action was taken on the proposed lease during the meeting.

In other business, and following separate public hearings, the Cass County Supervisors approved vacating two Secondary Roads, one in Grove Township (Keystone Road), the other in Washington Township (Jasper Road), as previously described. The latter is currently not maintained by the County. There were no objections to either course of action.