Study finds growth opportunities for Clarkfield Care Center
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A market study for the Clarkfield Care Center showed that there is room for growth based on the aging population of Yellow Medicine County and the services that are absent in the area.
Patricia McCullough of Health Planning and Management Resources, Inc. gave her recommendations in a draft presentation to the Clarkfield City Council on Tuesday night, highlighting areas where they could expand their services.
“The biggest thing is that you need to keep up your nursing home, but it is in good shape,” McCullough said. “The other big thing is the gap in continuum for other senior services.”
By providing other senior services, like senior housing and memory care, McCullough said that residents are more likely to stay in the community. Now, when potential residents are leaving the market area to seek senior services, they are compelled to stay where they are already comfortable receiving care when they move on to nursing home services.
Memory care assisted living was something in particular that is absent from the market area, which includes most of central Yellow Medicine county and portions of Lac qui Parle county.
Care Center Administrator Murray Finger noted that by changing therapy companies, there has been an uptick in residents up to 41. Murray also credited the staff members as being exceptional and reason enough for residents to come.
“I have been in this business a long time, and I’ve always heard that the Clarkfield Care Center was good in regard to staff,” McCullough said.
McCullough also presented the study to Ecumen administrators for their consideration. A finalized study will be completed shortly.
Engineering
Bollig Inc., the engineering firm representing the city of Clarkfield, met with Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water about the possibility of joining their water system in lieu of building a brand new water tower, which has been estimated to cost above half a million dollars.
Bollig and the council had originally hoped to take advantage of a search grant, but Lincoln Pipestone said they only offered it to communities that were destitute or unable to gather the funds.
The search grant was originally going to cover a $30,000 portion of Bollig’s fee that would be wrapped into the project payment. Instead, the council approved the motion to pay Bollig $5000 a month starting in November until it was paid off.
Bollig Inc. will continue to plan the future projects of Clarkfield, even though the council seats change after the November election.
In other news
• The mediation for the detachment of property has been scheduled for the end of October between City Attorney Dave Gilbertson and the property owners.
After nearly six weeks without finding a mediation date, the council was worried that they might be legally forfeiting their claim to the land in question. It was revealed that it is the responsibility of those who bring forth a motion of detachment to make sure mediation happens, and the city will not be penalized.
• The search for a public works director continues for the city, as applicants with the proper licensure have yet to apply.
The council looked into using People Services for an individual to step in when licensure was needed, but the $1500 a month cost made them hesitant.