PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Residents of Arnold Avenue attended Monday’s Prestonsburg City Council meeting expressing concerns over a halfway house that’s been established in a residential area.

Speakers brought up concerns of drugs being dealt out of the home and occupants violating curfew rules.

Mayor Rick Hughes also noted an increase in patrols by city police around the home, which is the former Doug Adams Law Office at 158 North Arnold Avenue.

The operator of the halfway house, Benjie Ferguson, said he is working on becoming a certified sober living house and will continue to house occupants who are going through the Floyd County Drug Court and in recovery.

When asked, Ferguson indicated curfew is 10 p.m. weekday nights and 11 p.m. on weekends, which prompted a crowd response that the curfew is being violated every night and at all hours of the night.

Ferguson says he is in the process of getting camera surveillance of the property to help enforce the curfew. Occupants abide by a three-strike penalty system to stay in the home which is set by Floyd County Drug Court.

There are currently six occupants in the home, which has staff on site between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  City officials indicated that ownership of business did receive a business license and that the home is not violating any residential zoning codes.

Mayor Hughes said he would schedule a meeting with District Judge Jimmy Marcum about rules and whether occupants must live within walking distance of drug court.