Ramsey County is officially handing over the keys to its downtown detox space, setting the stage for a big shift in how residents access withdrawal management in St. Paul.
This week, the County Board signed off on a lease that puts Meridian Behavioral Health, operating locally as EOSIS, into the county-owned withdrawal management facility at 402 University Avenue East. The county is winding down its own detox program at the end of 2025 and pivoting to community-based providers for medically monitored detox instead. Under the deal, EOSIS is slated to take over on July 1, 2026, with access to roughly 17,300 usable square feet through December 31, 2028.
Board Signs Lease And Links It To A Capacity Grant
At its June 23 meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved a request to lease the site to Meridian Behavioral Health LLC, doing business as EOSIS, and authorized county leaders to finalize the agreement. According to the board packet, the lease is bundled with a one-time capacity-building grant and gives EOSIS free use of the county-owned detox space for the length of the initial term, with any future extensions to be negotiated at market rates, per Ramsey County Legistar. The packet also lays out the tenant’s business address and the square footage of the space as part of the recommendation.
Why The County Is Shifting To Community Providers
County officials say the change is meant to tap specialized community providers for medically appropriate detox care while Ramsey County itself focuses on oversight, strategy, and funding. The county’s transition page notes that the Detoxification and Withdrawal Management Center permanently closed on December 31, 2025, and now directs residents to an updated roster of community providers, along with phone support to help people locate services. According to Ramsey County and the county’s 2026–27 budget book, shutting down the in-house program eliminates about 39.5 full-time equivalent positions and is projected to save roughly $800,000 in 2026 and $250,000 in 2027. At the same time, the budget sets aside $1.75 million in 2026 and $1.5 million in 2027 to pay for clients served in community programs and to cover one-time grants for providers.
Who Meridian, Also Known As EOSIS, Is
Meridian Behavioral Health, which operates services under the EOSIS name in parts of Minnesota, already runs several residential and outpatient programs around the Twin Cities. Accreditation listings and state licensing records show the operator has an established footprint in the region, something county staff cited when recommending EOSIS for the solicitation. Accreditation information is available through CARF, and state licensing details appear in the Minnesota DHS licensing lookup.
Public Reaction And Next Steps
At the June 23 board meeting, Documenters reported about 25 members of the public in attendance, along with a group of 17 interns. MinnPost’s Documenters summary by Jackie Renzetti, published June 26, captured those head counts and the blow-by-blow of the discussion. Community advocates used the public comment time to press county staff and the incoming operator to keep access low barrier and to report back on capacity and wait times as services move into the community, according to MinnPost. County officials say they will monitor outcomes and maintain phone support to help residents find treatment while the transition unfolds.
What Residents Should Watch
The big test for St. Paul residents is whether community providers can actually handle the demand while keeping withdrawal management timely and making sure people move smoothly into longer-term care. Ramsey County’s transition page lists phone numbers and a lineup of community providers for anyone seeking detox or withdrawal management services, and county budget documents spell out the one-time investments meant to build that capacity. The key questions now are whether services remain available when people need them and whether the 402 University Avenue East space ends up fully used under the grant-and-lease setup as EOSIS ramps up operations.
