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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNursing Home Steering Committee 03-02-01ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Thomas Dorsey, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: John Borup, 246 -8223 COMMITTEE TITLE: St. Croix County Nursing Home Steering Committee DATE: 03/02/01 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: St. Croix County Health and Human Services Complex, New Richmond CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES: ANNOUNCEMENTS APPOINTMENTS: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS: 1. Charge to Committee 2. Appointment of Officers 3. Review of Resolution to study Nursing Home 4. Review of Memorandum of understanding with Keefe and Associates 5. Setting Future Meetings 6. Other business ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: John M. Borup and Chuck Whiting DATE: 02/21/01 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE COUNTY CLERK NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE k ' NURSING HOME STEERING COMMITTEE March 2, 2001 The Nursing Home Steering Committee met on March 2, 2001 at the St. Croix County Health and Human Services /Health Center complex. MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Stephens, Chair Richard King Stan Krueger Ralph Swenson Esther Wentz MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: John Borup, Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Krieger, Nursing Home Administrator Malva Berg, Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Chuck Whiting, Administrative Coordinator Tom Dorsey, County Board Chair Dorsey call the meeting to order at 9:00 AM noting the meeting was properly and legally publicized. AGENDA Motion A motion was introduced by Swenson, seconded by Krueger, and unanimously adopted: That the agenda be approved with a change to election of officers versus appointment of officers. The Committee members were given a copy of the resolution to study the Nursing Home operation and Memorandum of Understanding between St. Croix County and Keefe & Associates, Inc. Dorsey said the resolution is a planning document, not an action document. All items on the resolution will be evaluated by the County Board. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Dorsey said he is not a voting member as he is not on the committee. Motion A motion was introduced by Wentz, seconded by King, and unanimously adopted: That Stephens be nominated as chair of the Nursing Home Steering Committee. Motion A motion was introduced by Krueger, seconded by Swenson, and unanimously adopted: That the Committee cast a unanimous vote for Stephens as chair of the Committee. Krueger nominated Swenson as vice chair, seconded by Stephens. King nominated Wentz as vice chair, seconded by Swenson. The committee cast written ballots for the position of vice chair. Stephens announced Swenson had the majority votes and is elected the vice chair of the committee. Krueger nominated Wentz as Secretary, seconded by King. Motion A motion was introduced by Swenson, seconded by Krueger, and unanimously adopted: That the nominations for secretary be closed and the committee cast a unanimous ballot for Wentz as secretary. Stephens said he understands the committee has three options regarding the nursing home: 1. Retain the nursing home as is, 2. Change some things in the nursing home to make it more economical, or 3. Close the nursing home. Swenson said the changes in number two could be fine tuning or a major mission change and the committee should define the change. Stephens said there may be some possible inexpensive changes such as in management, etc. or construction changes, which would mean a major investment. Stephens said the committee needs to define goals, as it can't go on as is with needing more funds every year. Whiting said the resolution defines the changes that are happening in the nursing home and the committee has no option but to address those changes and make recommendations. Borup said efforts are being made to update financial reports. He said the State, Federal and County systems are complicated and are not normal business accounting. The Nursing Home is given mandates by State and Federal government but there have been no follow through monies for these mandates. Borup said a hard budget is almost impossible due to the multiple influences of government. Stephens said the resolution is a good starting document to work with. Corporation Counsel Timmerman, Krieger, Borup and Whiting held a telephone conference with Keefe to discuss the memorandum of understanding between St. Croix County and Keefe & Associates, Inc. (K & A). The issue of K & A hiring an architect to assist with a study of the physical plant and site evaluation and renovation /new construction cost estimates was discussed and is a concern of the committee. The architect fee is in addition to the K & A fee. Krueger said he is not against the $10,800 fee for architect fees. He said this is a bare assessment fee and part of the study. The architect will not be hired unless there is County Board approval to do this. Whiting said there is a concern beyond the Nursing Home issue. If part of the architect recommendation included the nursing home utilizing part of the 1974 building as possibly a residential site, where would Health and Human Services be housed? This is not part of the charge of the resolution. King said the buildings need to be studied carefully as the County has been too quick to tear buildings down in the past. It was the consensus of the committee that the next meeting would include Keefe so that the contract may be solidified. Stephens said he would like to possibly set a feedback date of mid -June on an interim basis before all the monies are paid to K & A. Stephens said he would like a monthly meeting to monitor the progress of the study. Krueger indicated we could possibly tie progress reports to the payment schedule. 2 . ,- It is possible that additional fees may be requested if the Committee revises the study. Stephens said the contract should read the fee will not exceed $55,000. Whiting said in their telephone conference the expenses, which usually amount to 5 -7% of the professional fee, were to be built into the $55,000 fee, not in addition to the $55,000 fee. Krueger said we should set limits on meals, lodging, mileage, etc. similar to what the County imposes on its employees. Borup said he doesn't feel we should push on the small cost items as it will show up elsewhere. Krueger said we should increase the last payment to $15,000 and distribute the other payments accordingly to meet the $55,000 fee, as we would then have more leverage if goals were not being met. Swenson said it is common business practice to have 10% of the total fee as the final payment. Stephens said we should include an escape clause in the contract. Whiting asked if the committee would like to look at contractors other than Keefe. Krueger said he comes with high recommendations and feels it would be a waste of the committee's time to look at others. Krieger said she has spoken with several counties he has done work with and all have been very satisfied with the work he has delivered. She said he has been in this business for 25 years and wants to continue with the business. Krueger said he would like a reference from Trempealeau county as that is the county Keefe has worked with recently. The committee held a telephone conference with Keefe at 10:35 to discuss the MOU. Keefe reviewed the study would be divided into three phases. The Committee was concerned how progress would be monitored. The payment schedule is not connected with a deliverable product. Keefe said he would be meeting with the committee to conduct interviews, collect data and report at meetings. He said timelines do not always work due to so many variables in a study like this. Keefe said the end product is that the things assigned in the resolution and MOU will be done. Keefe agreed to add to VII. Miscellaneous Provisions of the contract that if either party decides to end the project, compensation for actual expenses up to the maximum of $55,000 will be made. Keefe will draw up another contract based on changes requested by the Committee and send copies to Whiting. The committee requested a separate memo to define the scope of the kind of work the architect will do. It should include physical plant evaluation, current codes and current marketing trends of the facility, remedies and cost estimates, and issues and cost estimates related to assisted living, day care, etc. Keefe said he anticipates beginning work immediately upon acceptance of the MOU. The next meeting was scheduled for March 16, 2001 at 10:00 AM. A tour of the facility will take place at that time. Motion A motion was introduced by Wentz, seconded by Krueger and unanimously adopted: That the Committee approves the contract with revisions and allow all County Board personnel to sign when the revised contract is received. 3 t Krueger asked that blue prints of the 1982 and 1974 buildings be available. Whiting suggested Finance should be made aware of the additional monies that may be needed for architect fees and then bring the issues to the full County Board. Krueger said he is in favor of going to Finance. Krueger said he is concerned of the code violation. Whiting said the funds were committed but the source of the funds was not determined. This issue should also be brought up to Finance, as Finance is the Committee that will make the decision as to the fund source. It was the consensus of the Committee that the study cannot be completed without an architect consult. Borup will make sure Robole will be available for the tour on 03/16/01. Dorsey said this is a wonderful facility that is run well. His only hope is that this committee can improve on that. Motion A motion was introduced by Wentz, seconded by King, and unanimously adopted: That the meeting be adjourned. Time: 11 :20 AM Chair: Attest: (secretary) 4