People living in the Kelley’s Bridge area of Lawrence County are not happy with their new neighbor. Sheriff Tim Sexton isn’t happy with the new neighbor, either. He’s keeping a close watch on the situation, and the Lawrence County Commission wants to call the FBI about it.

About two weeks ago, the Iron Rock Clinic opened in a brick front block building on State Route 93, three tenths of a mile from Rock Hill Middle School.

Residents have expressed fears that this is another shady &uot;prescription factory&uot; catering to substance abusers and drug peddlers.

Such an alleged facility opened in Hanging Rock two years ago. It went out of business after a fire damaged the building -- but not before residents there complained about the traffic, the patients hanging around on the sidewalk, and other behavior that did not meet with their approval.

Most residents interviewed said they feared repercussions from voicing their opinions about a facility they think is &uot;illegal and immoral.&uot;

They say already, they have seen more than they ever wanted to see in their once quiet neighborhood.

&uot;I was driving home the other day and almost hit some man, staggering in the middle of the road, right outside the place,&uot; one neighbor said. &uot;I don’t think he even knew I was there. He was in the road. I had to swerve to keep from hitting him.&uot;

They have also complained about the steady streams of cars in and out of the parking lot, and people milling about on the sidewalk– something you don’t see at other doctor’s offices, they pointed out.

&uot;We will do what whatever we can,&uot; Sexton said. &uot;We are aware of this facility and we are investigating this. The public is concerned and rightly so.&uot;

Sexton said he spoke with a Portsmouth attorney who identified himself as Gary Billiter, vice-president of the company that operates the clinic. The sheriff said Billiter assured him that the clinic will not be a nuisance.

&uot;He assured me he would run it legally. He assured me he would not have people standing out front on the sidewalk. He assured me there would be no unruly patients or criminal activity.&uot;

But Sexton isn’t convinced. &uot;Do I think some of these drugs will wind up on the streets? Yes, I do.&uot;

He wonders why a legitimate clinic needs security guards.

He also said he had been told patients must pay $250 up front to see a doctor.

&uot;I asked him why he didn’t take Medicare and insurance. He told me it was easier to do business that way,&uot; Sexton said.

Sexton also has questions about why a small, newly opened clinic in rural Lawrence County is drawing patients from all over the Tri-State, including a number of counties in Kentucky and West Virginia, as well as communities in other Ohio counties.

An Ironton Tribune reporter visited the clinic and asked to speak to someone about the facility. An employee behind a glass partition directed the reporter to call Billiter with any inquiries and provided a business card.

When contacted, Billiter told the Tribune reporter he would answer only answer questions that were submitted in writing and faxed to his office.

The reporter did submit a list of questions regarding the operation and ownership of the facility,

the kinds of ailments that would be treated at the clinic, the qualifications of the doctors involved, and other issues pertaining to the clinic.

Billiter had not replied to the questions by press time.

Sexton emphasized that if a person seeks a prescription from a licensed medical doctor for a diagnosed illness, there is not much law enforcement can do about the situation so long as there is no criminal activity taking place. Laws must be broken before he can take any action.

Sexton said however there are other ways to put suspected prescription factories out of business.

&uot;I encourage people who are concerned to write the Ohio State Medical Board and their legislators about this issue. Something’s got to be done. There needs to be legislation to prevent these places from opening.&uot;

The Lawrence County Commission Thursday approved a resolution to ask the Federal Bureau of Investigations to look into the matter.

Editor's Note: Efforts were made to contact the clinic's attorney. A list of questions were requested and sent but no response was given as of presstime. Tersa Moore/The Ironton Tribune