Crescent-News.com - Voters to decide on Henry County care facility

By JARED ORZOLEK

orzolek@crescent-news.com

NAPOLEON -- Voters across Henry County are preparing to decide a new levy which is slated to help fund the operation the county home, Country View Haven.

Henry County commissioners previously approved the placement of the 1.9-mill, three-year operating levy on the ballot.

There are 33 individuals who call the residential care facility, located on County Road 15 north of Napoleon, home.

"We are not trying to compete with the private sector. We have a smaller family-oriented environment," said Sue Meister, director of the county home.

The levy is slated to generate around $850,000 in revenue per year. It would cost a property owner with a home valued at $100,000 close to $58 per year.

Country View Haven's operating expenses run around $135,000 per month, and in 2007 the facility will operate with a spending deficit of more than $1 million.

The county home was previously supported by a 1.7-mill levy, which was not renewed last year because of a budgetary surplus at the county home.

There are 46 staff members who work at Country View Haven, which also is supported by the volunteer organization HOME Society.

Those who live at the county home participate in daily activities, which range from music activities to various outings.

"We go out to eat and we go on picnics," Meister said. "Our residents stay busy all day."

The county home, which was built in 1934, receives water from a water line installed in 1981 and has its own sewage treatment plant that was built in 1998 and is run by a professional environmental management company.

Meister said there is room for 40 residents to live at the home and said those who live in the facility pay a range of fees based on their financial situation.

Nursing care and assistance is provided 24 hours per day at the home.

Henry County commissioners have indicated that if the levy is not approved by voters, the county home will run out of operating funds by the end of 2008.

"When we have no money we will not be able to operate," said Commissioner Richard Bennett. "It's a decision that is up to the voters."

Commissioners noted that not all of the county home residents would be eligible to stay in a traditional private nursing home.

"Not all are typical nursing residents. There are persons who might fall through the cracks of other social agencies," Bennett said.