Butler County to spend $1 million on nursing home upgrades

Butler County commissioners plan to move some Community Development Block Grant money away from other projects in order to partially fund about $1 million worth of renovations at the county nursing home.

They believe the work is needed to make the Butler County Care Facility more competitive.

It has struggled financially for years, but commissioners said they feel the need to keep it running.

“Our mission is to try to take care of people that have no place else to go,” Commissioner Don Dixon said.

RELATED: Care facility getting a face lift

Commissioners already agreed to defer the $260,000 paving project at the airport so they can use those funds for two of the capital projects at the nursing home. The new roof is going to cost $241,900, and the chiller is $76,304.

The county now intends on taking $250,000 from planned CDBG projects in College Corner, Hanover and Morgan townships. They decided not to touch the $65,000 matching money for water main replacements in New Miami because the village would likely lose $585,000 from the Ohio Public Works Commission.

“I think we should redirect our CDBG money and just delay those projects a year,” Dixon said. “Bring this (home renovations) on so we can get this revenue loss issue off our back. None of those other projects are life threatening.”

Officials from the jurisdictions losing the funding this year could not be reached for comment.

There is an additional $80,000 in CDBG money also available for work on the nursing home.

In December, commissioners had to loan another $225,000 to the facility so payroll could be met through the end of the year. That brings the Care Facility’s outstanding bill up to $725,000, just below a previous loan amount of $1.1 million.

READ MORE: Cost-cutting measures at the county home

Some upgrades to make the once dreary home more inviting have already taken place. They have installed new lighting, painted the common areas white and removed obstructions to windows so it has a much more open feel.

An architect has taken a look at the building and recommended improvements both inside and outside. The county plans to tackle the interior first, at an estimated cost of $400,000 — the roof and other upgrades come to a total of $968,092.

The plan includes moving the administrative offices to the basement and bringing physical therapy up to the office area, creating a real reception area at the entrance to the building — right now there is a person sitting behind a Plexiglas window like a drive-up bank — converting the little used chapel into a beauty salon, a family lounge, Wii station and possibly a conference room.

Interim Assistant County Administrator Sue Vance said they will also be removing part of the wall between the hallway and dining room that looks like “jail bars” and replacing furniture, flooring, window treatments, painting and making other changes to enhance the core areas. An internet cafe, a piano, seating groups and other amenities are also planned so residents can stay active and socialize.

“It looks like then with the concentration on activity it would provide an energy that’s not there now,” Commissioner T.C. Rogers said during the commissioners’ work session Monday.

RELATED: Care Facility hires consultant to help recover failing finances

Care Facility Co-administrator Jennifer Strickland said they also want to attract more residents and even out-patient therapy patients.

“Some of the goal is if we can attract more mid-line people, at a least a little bit more, the revenue from them is significantly higher than Medicaid,” Strickland said. “It can offset a lot of things.”

The patient wings will also be addressed at a later time, but Dixon said the architect’s suggestion they install bathrooms in every room isn’t going to be part of the plan.

“We’re the last people standing in line for them to have any quality of life. Although our rooms may be small and they may not have a bath, they may not have a shower in each room, but they are clean, they’re warm, they’re air conditioned… When you say we’re going to look at these bathrooms in these rooms later, it’s not going to happen.”

An additional $755,000 is also planned late for improvements to the exterior, including a portico over the entrance, the addition of two four-season rooms and redesigning the parking lot.

County Administrator Charlie Young said they are shy about $170,000 for the first phase and are considering options. Officials estimate the first phase will take a year-and-a-half. If general fund dollars are used, Dixon said he believes the improvements will help repay that loan quickly.

“My guess is once we’re all done a year-and-a-half from now, we’ll repay that in a year,” Dixon said.

About the Author