By MaryHelen Swanson
North Branch Mayor Gloria Karsky was disappointed with the Chisago County commissioners last week.

Speaking during the public forum section of the Oct. 6 county board meeting, she expressed dismay that the county had not communicated better with the city of North Branch on the Green Acres Country Care Center (GACCC) issue.

She said there should have been some discussion with the city to see how the proposed turnover of the nursing home could work for the city.

As it stands, the county has chosen Ecumen (formerly Board of Social Ministry) to proceed with the plan for county turnover of the facility and construction of a new facility in connection with a variety of senior housing options and medical clinic.

That new facility is planned for a site west of I-35 in North Branch.
The county recently agreed to give Ecumen the current 80-acres site for $1, which in turn is expected to release the county from all liabilities in connection with the nursing home.

The county has owned the GACCC facility for many years. Ecumen, under its former name, has been the contracted operator of the facility.
Several years ago, the county was told that the current facility needed improvement and when the estimated costs to do so came in extremely high, it was decided that a new facility should be considered.

Last year, the county board asked for and received proposals for operating a new facility, which was a part of a planned senior complex that could include assisted living units and a medical clinic.

Four firms responded. Ecumenís proposal was accepted. It was to be a joint effort with the county still in the nursing home business.
Since that time, the county has decided it wants out of the business. Negotiations with Ecumen have continued with the goal of getting the county out of the business.

Part of that proposal included the county giving Ecumen $1.375 million which Ecumen needs to help finance the construction of a new facility.
When the county learned it could not bond for such an expense, it was decided that the county would sell the current property to Ecumen for $1, providing them with the asset needed to garner the money for the project.

If finalized, this plan will get the county out of the nursing home business and out from under any unknown liabilities in closing of the facility.
Last week, Mayor Karsky told the commissioners that now the city will have to work with Ecumen as it aims toward a goal of open space in the area of the present Green Acres home.

Also speaking at the public forum was North Branch resident Barbara Burrington who did not agree with the county giving the Green Acres land to Ecumen. She said it will bring in ìpack and stackî development and that the land should be returned to the county.

Another concerned citizen, Daylene Voligny, said she couldnít believe the county gave away such an asset. She asked why this action was allowed.

NB resident Theresa Furman asked why the county did not give the city a copy of the recently approved letter of intent with Ecumen. She believed that in the proposal the county was being taken advantage of. She said she understood that the county wants out of the nursing home business, but she said the county should watch out for itself.

Monday night, Oct. 11, Mayor Karsky noted that she, NB City Administrator Joe Lynch, County Administrator John Moosey and Dave Zwicky from Ecumen had sat down and talked about the cityís concerns.

She said she pointed out that the city wants to preserve open space in a corridor in the vicinity of Green Acres and is concerned about high density development in that area.

She was concerned with the statement in the recent letter of intent that says North Branch has right of first refusal if Ecumen sells the current GACCC property.

She said sheíd like it to read that the city has the right on a portion of the 80 acres, not necessarily all 80 acres.
She wants Ecumen to be aware that the land is within the open space corridor.

She said sheíd like Ecumen to consider a donation of land to the city for a park.
And finally, she said the city and Ecumen should work together to develop a park either on a part of the 80 acres or on the adjacent 20 acres (still owned by the county).

Councilwoman Kathy Blomquist said Monday night that she was glad everyone was discussing the issue. She said it was a good starting point.

Steve Mork was on hand for the Monday night meeting in North Branch. He is the director of GACCC and an employee of Ecumen.
He reminded everyone that the new nursing home project started four years ago, with the intent to develop a senior living center.
He said GACCC is losing money due to so many using assisted living facilities today.

Mork said Ecumen sees the current GACCC property as a valuable asset, necessary to use as a transition to the new campus and cover its losses at the same time.

Mork said Ecumen does want to work with the city in the coming year on possible uses for the current nursing home property.

After the public forum at last Wednesdayís county board meeting. Commissioner Rick Olseen responded to Burringtonís concerns saying the county could be seeing a $3 million loss to close GACCC if Ecumen walks away next April when they say they will end their lease.

He re-emphasized the boardís position that the county does not want to be in the nursing home business any more.
Commissioner Lora Walker responded by saying any way you look at it, the taxpayers are footing the bill. She said she didnít support the $1 sale and that there is no guarantee that a new nursing home will be built.

She said the county could be in the position of having given away a multi-million dollar gift with no return.
Commissioner Ben Montzka said heíd try to work with North Branch.

ìWeíre trying to do the right thing,î he said.
The commissioners spent considerable time following this discussion deciding if they want to send a newsletter to all county residents explaining the nursing home issues, from the history of the home to the present proposal.

It was noted that it could cost over $10,000 for such a mailing and some commissioners thought there should be more than one item of information if a newsletter is sent out.

When no decision could be made about what should be included in a newsletter and when it should go out to the county residents, discussion of the issue ended.

It was decided that the concept of a county newsletter should be put on a future board agenda.
The board agreed to have legal advisors look into the countyís liabilities on closing the nursing home.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com