Hillcrest Trustees criticize paper for stories on facility

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Holding a newspaper clipping with the headline, "Hillcrest woes add up to an increase in county budget," Hillcrest Board of Trustee Jim Howard lambasted the McCook Daily Gazette for what he perceived as inaccurate and faulty reporting.

At the regular board meeting Tuesday, Howard railed against the paper on a number of issues, including a story on bed licenses and bond payments.

Howard said the sale of bed licenses did not "fall through" as the article reported, but was merely "delayed."

The negative press is "hurting us, it's hurting the employees, it's hurting recruiting. The facts are not being told," Howard said.

Howard said information on bond payments Hillcrest owes on construction was also inaccurate. "There is no cash flow problem, we're just working through a hard time," he said, adding that he will write a letter to 'Open Forum" clarifying the facts.

In June, trustees of the county-owned nursing home asked for funds from Red Willow County Commissioners to help cover expenses. At that time, Randy Dean, Hillcrest Board of Trustee, said that the cash flow problem started in February. "No Medicare or Medicaid billings were done and the nursing home administrator was not doing anything to get it done," he said.

In July, Red Willow County Commissioners authorized a $1 million bank loan for the benefit of the nursing home. Paul Wood, Red Willow County Attorney, told commissioners that the resolution authorizing the loan directs that the loan be repaid with revenues generated by the nursing home and/or a tax levy not to exceed 7 cents.

At that time, interim Hillcrest administrator Jerry Rothmeyer told the commissioners that Hillcrest can repay the debt and Dan Miller, the county's budget clerk, explained the levy is "just in case that doesn't happen."

In September, the county commissioners raised the tax levy slightly, citing funds loaned to Hillcrest and jail expenses as the reasons for the $812,000 increase in the property tax request.

Miller indicated at that meeting that by levying for and paying with taxes the two bond payments remaining on a 1994 Hillcrest construction project, the county is "buying Hillcrest some time" to recover from budget problems.

Fellow trustee Jim Hall also took issue Tuesday morning with the recent stories about a Hillcrest employee allegedly assaulting a resident and said it was not clear when the employee was terminated.

Hillcrest administrator Colinda Nappa said that employees are upset with the recent stories and that staff needs to be reassured that "negative press is not all the news." She said that employees have been advised not to speak with the press, policies have been reviewed and asked board members if they would consider visiting with staff prior to the next board meeting, so employees could share their concerns.

Board members appeared enthusiastic about the proposal and Nappa said she would schedule meetings with staff and board in the near future.