There's no debate on whether mental health services are in demand in the Quad Cities.
"The need is so severe. It's critical. It's a crisis," says Scott County Supervisor Tom Sunderbruch.
So when Scott County officials got wind of a national company wanting to build a $14-million facility in Bettendorf, Iowa for mental health in-patient services, they were all for it.
What they didn't expect was opposition from local hospitals.
"We have a solution in place that is better quality, less cost and sooner implementation than that proposed by the out of state for profit provider," says Genesis Health Vice President Ken Croken.
Local hospitals like Genesis say they already have things under control.
"We, Genesis, have expanded services over the past year and have a plan to increase services up to 60 beds in the next year," says Croken.
But Scott County officials disagree.
"They have not done it to this point, and we've given them ample opportunity, eleven years. And it has not been done," says Sunderbruch.
They say the needs of the community are simply not being met, and additional competition will only help fix the current situation.
"Our people are in jails and prisons. That's where our mental health patients are being treated," says Sunderbruch.
The two sides will go head to head on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 when Strategic Behavioral Health brings its proposal to the Iowa state Health Facilities Council. There, a panel will decide whether the project is economical or if it would drive up costs by giving the Quad Cities something it already has in place.