Commissioners Vote to Fund Lighthouse Program

After months of debate, Park County Commissioners this week chose to help fund a Washakie County Facility for mentally ill patients.

The Lighthouse Program is run by Cloud Peak Counseling Center in Worland. Its purpose is to treat substance abuse patients, or those at risk of harming themselves or committing suicide. Washakie County Commission Chair Terry Wolf appeared before the Park County Commissioners on Tuesday to ask for assistance with expansion of the project, although it is a privately run facility.

In past meetings, concern has been voiced by commissioners as to whether or not Park County patients would be given priority due to their proximity to Washakie County, because the organization was asking for state money as well. While having the extra beds available locally would be beneficial, and would be less expensive than sending patients to the State hospital in Evanston or to have them held at West Park Hospital, there was concern that Park County patients would not receive priority, so helping to fund the project would not benefit Park County in any way.

But at Tuesday’s meeting, Wolf assured the Park County commissioners that citizens from Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie Counties would get first priority.

The commissioners voted 3-1 to contribute $6,000 to the Lighthouse Program.