Neighbors of Dunn County committee hears quality, staffing, facilities updates; accepts financial reports

The Neighbors of Dunn County standing committee met July 17 and heard routine operational reports from facility staff, discussed private-pay rates for fiscal 2026, and accepted the facility’s financial reports for the period under review.

Carmen (staff member) opened the operational updates with a Quality Assurance (QA) committee report: the facility’s plan of correction and documentation was accepted by the state of Wisconsin and the facility’s license was renewed for another year. "So all of our survey citations were corrected and our plan as well as our proof of our plan were accepted from the state of Wisconsin. So, we are relicensed for another year," Carmen said.

Staff provided hiring and staffing details: Chris (staff) was on vacation; the facility ran nine direct-hire interviews and two agency interviews in the month, offered nine direct-hire positions and had nine acceptances, and recorded three resignations (a part-time homemaker, a part-time food service worker, and a part-time LPN who became an RN and moved to the hospital). The resident referral report showed 114 residents at the start of June, 71 referrals, 10 admissions, 61 referrals not admitted, and an end-of-month census of 112. The facility reported three deaths and seven discharges home in the month.

A new CNA training class started the week of July 17 and included two current NDC employees in the class. "They're homemakers that are becoming CNAs. So that's a really good thing and, the whole reason we wanted the class," Carmen said.

Facilities staff reported a recent life-safety survey with minor findings: a dirty sprinkler head, a missing ceiling penetration behind a pipe, six electrical outlets replaced with hospital-grade outlets in the central building, and a noncompliant emergency light that needed hardwiring. City water inspection items involving washing-machine soap dispensers were fixed and the kitchen oven was scheduled for installation July 30. Brady (facilities staff) said the facility will exchange fire extinguishers with a vendor for hydrostatic testing.

Committee members discussed private-pay rates for 2026. Carmen said the current private-pay rate was $3.37 per day and that the first-round budget includes a 2% increase to $3.43 per day; she noted the private-pay population comprises less than 10% of residents while roughly 75% of residents are on Medicaid and the remaining 25% are covered by Medicare, VA benefits, or private insurance. The item was a discussion only and no rate change was adopted.

Carmen delivered a financial summary from the packet: public charges (resident revenue) year-to-date were $8,659,761 with a projected $17,000,000 for fiscal 2025; total other revenues put the FY25 projection around $17,500,000. Expenses shown included salary and fringe under $4,000,000, agency costs of about $2,000,000, operating costs around $1,700,000 and depreciation of $176,000, totaling $7,601,716 year-to-date and a projected $16,116,578 for 2025. Carmen reported a current surplus of $1,158,419 and a projected surplus of about $1,400,000 for 2025. The committee was also shown that agency staffing costs are projected to be roughly $1,000,000 lower than the prior year.

The committee voted to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and to accept the financial reports as presented. For both items, members voiced "Aye" and the chair declared the motions carried.

Ending: Staff said vouchers will be presented next month (vouchers were not available at the July 17 meeting). The committee confirmed its next meeting date and adjourned.