City coffers get an extra $60K

Denise Broomfield, first row, from left, MNB Insurance Services agent, hands city clerk Lea Ann Doak an insurance dividend refund of $61,424.55. The check is the result of low insurance losses for the past year. Other city department heads and administration shown with the check presentation include Beth Siegfried of the Heritage Senior Center, first row, far right; back row, Ike Brown, City Police chief, Nate Schneider, city manager, Marc Harpham, City fire chief, Jesse Dutcher, Utilities director and Kyle Potthoff, Public Works director.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council accepted Monday night a $61,424.55 insurance dividend refund Monday night from EMC Insurance Co., the insurance provider for the city’s capital equipment and facilities.

The city has received a dividend refund from EMC before, mostly recently around $40,000 last year. Denise Broomfield, MNB Insurance Services agent, commended the city on the lack of losses that resulted in the dividend check.

Councilman Gene Weedin directed city staff to come back to the council with some ideas on how the $60,000 should be spent, mentioning the repair of Memorial Auditorium curtains costing more than expected and that other areas could use the funds.

Mayor Mike Gonzales thanked department heads and city employees for the low number of losses last year.

Also on Monday night, the council was urged by a McCook citizen to attend a public meeting concerning Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes.

Jacque Riener, former Red Willow County Commissioner, now a member of a local committee to help Hillcrest and other area nursing homes, told the council Hillcrest Nursing Homes could in danger of closing if the Nebraska legislature doesn’t advance out of committee bills to restructure Medicaid payments.

Hillcrest is shorted $50 per day per Medicaid patient for Medicaid reimbursements, losing up to $500,000 to $700,000 per year, Riener said. A public meeting is set for Wednesday, April 24, 7 p.m., at the Fox Theater.

The state legislature allocates funds for nursing homes, but the state Health and Human Services spends it on other areas, Reiner said. That’s why it’s important to contact state senators so they can get on board and advance several bills, introduced by Gering, Neb. Sen. John Stinner, that gives nursing homes their own “bucket” of funds to use.

“We think we have Dan (Hughes, Dist. 44 state senator) on our side, but we need other senators,” she said.

Riener said the closing of Hillcrest would be major impact as it would eliminate 150 jobs and a loss of services to 85 elderly residents. There are about 40 residents now at Hillcrest on Medicaid, she said. If facilities aren’t open to Medicaid residents, they won’t be open for private pay or Medicare residents either, Riener said.

Riener added that time is of the essence as the legislature closes its current session by June 6.