If a proposed substance abuse center for teens is to be located in Fayette, it's not going to be next to the county's closed landfill.

Last Thursday, Jim Friday, representing DART, A new beginning, appeared before the County Commission and asked the board to donate five acres of land on the west side of Glass Road for the proposed facility.

"It would be for boys only, because there's not a facility just for them," Friday said.

The facility could house up to 16 youths, and would be 5,700 square feet. Friday pegged the cost of building the facility at $490,000, while operational costs would be $560,000 a year.

He said the facility's treatment would involve a highly-structured program based on the 12-step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and would last for nine months.

Friday said the problem with drug and alcohol abuse was rising in Fayette County for teens, and the situation needed to be addressed rapidly.

While the County Commission sympathized with Friday, they said the Glass Road site was not suitable.

"We've had monitors out there that show that there is methane gas leaking," said Chairman Greg Dunn.

The county bought the property to act as a buffer for the adjacent closed landfill and Dunn said it's not suitable for building.

"It would be negligent on our part," added Commissioner Linda Wells.

Dunn also said Friday's request brought up a philosophical question about how involved the county government should be with helping nonprofit groups.

Commissioner A.G. VanLandingham, who was initially approached by Friday, said he would continue working to see if there was any other county land suitable for the facility.

"We need your help big time," said Friday.