An overflowing crowd showed up again before Delaware County Council to voice their continuing disapproval over a Delco Woods proposal to use buildings on the former Don Guanella property for a residential mental health facility.

Individuals reminded the council at the May 1 meeting they had sold the public on the idea that the acquired property would be for open space use as a county park known as Delco Woods, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

“We went out and we’ve toured other locations around the county so this was not, ‘We’re building this here. We’re using this here.’ This was an option that was identified and so we are investigating other options as well,” said County Council Chairman Dr. Monica Taylor.

The Human Services Department has already spent two-and-a-half years looking at 25 sites for a mental health facility.

Michael Straw from Media believed maintaining a mental health facility on the property would mean a higher operating budget for the county after it already spent a “landmark investment” to acquire the land for open space.

“How is the county going to be able to afford the creation of a mental health facility?” Straw asked.

Read more about the ongoing concerns over a Delco Woods proposal in the Daily Times.