The DeKalb County Board continues to look for a replacement location for the Sober Living House Project.

Jeff Metzger, chairman of the DeKalb County Board, said the announcement of the cancellation of the Sober Living House was at a special meeting of the board’s Law and Justice Committee on March 31. The plan was to purchase a house at 303 Exchange St. for the Sober Living House Program, but it was canceled due to the conflicts with the county’s 100 Year Plan. The county is looking for other properties to continue with the Sober Living House program.

Julia Fauci, DeKalb County Board member, said a Sober Living House, is a place where people addicted to drugs and alcohol can stay to complete a strict drug program to overcome their addiction. Fauci said if the people with addictions don’t go to this house they usually have a jail sentence. The DeKalb County website, www.dekalbcounty.org, shows the 100 Year Plan, which is a way for the county to inform the residents of Sycamore and surrounding residents the parameters of the county campus. The 100 Year Plan allows the county to purchase property within the parameters of Walnut Street, State Street Route 64, Locust Street and Sycamore Street.

“I feel that most, if not all of the board, are in favor of the idea for a Sober Living House. We just need to find the best location and type of home for this purpose,” Metzger said.

Bob Brown, DeKalb County Board member, said there is a Sober Living House for women in the county, but not one for men, so the men have to go to facilities outside the county.

“My understanding is that the Drug DUI Court is going to continue to look for properties for the Sober Living House and the project will come back in the future,” Brown said.

Anthony Cvek, DeKalb County Board member, said the house was estimated to be bought for $146,000. Fauci said DeKalb County does not have enough money to buy a different home, but it has enough money to renovate one.

Fauci said the board can buy a home in the footprint of the 100 Year Plan and then renovate it in to a Sober Living Home, but the remaining homes in the 100 Year Plan are not big enough.