OWENS CROSS ROADS, Ala (WHNT) — A public hearing Friday discussed the fate of a North Alabama all-girls treatment center.
The Owens Cross Roads city council voted not to renew “Pathway of Madison Co.’s” business license back in January. Friday, Pathway’s Defense Attorney Rick Hall, fought to prove why they should stay in business.
This public hearing style was different than some in the past. Hall got to call witnesses to the stand to question as part of his argument.
The hearing lasted just a little over four hours, with no final decision on the state of the license.
The first person he called to the stand was Owens Cross Roads City Clerk Christie Eason. She was one of the city officials who made the recommendation that Pathway should not be allowed to renew the license back in January.
Hall argued that Pathway had fewer calls out to law enforcement for issues on site than Sequel, a similar program that once stood in the same location.
Eason stuck to the regulations in place, stated in the city’s business licensing ordinance, as to the reasoning behind their decision.
“Non-compliance with our city ordinance and the due process that is outlined in our licensing and permitting,” she said. “That’s what I based my decision on. “It’s stated right there.. That’s why I said that.”
Next, Hall called Richard White to the stand. He is a program director for Pathway. He said there are currently 17 kids on site with two therapists. He said they fired the executive director who was in charge the night of the so-called riots in September of 2024.
He said they now have new training programs in place that offer employees better training on de-escalating situations and how to respond in emergency situations.
In addressing previous escape attempts at Pathway complex, White said it’s their job to help the girls work through their trauma, and sometimes, those actions are a result of “running from themselves.”
“We push them on it and because of that they don’t like it,” said White. “We’re not here to make friends, we’re here to help these kids be better members of society by dealing with their traumas and be better for themselves by dealing with their traumas.”
The new executive director of Pathway, Dr. Arielle Feggins, took the stand. She reiterated the new programs and procedures they have in place, saying it is a safer and better-run facility now than it was in September.
She said they have different staff and a different group of girls living in Pathway now.
She said shutting down Pathway would set these girls back in their progress and only create more trauma in their lives.
In the final discussion of the hearing, the CEO of Pathway said they were willing to do anything within reason in order to keep their business license.
Right now, the city council is considering the arguments made today, and the time for a decision is unknown, but it must be made at a public council meeting.
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