Cloud County to close Home Health agency on May 15 after unanimous vote

Cloud County commissioners voted unanimously March 30 to close the county-run Home Health Agency within the Health Department, setting May 15 as the agency's effective closure date, citing continued financial losses.

On a motion by Commissioner Ron Copple, seconded by Commissioner Dannie Kearn, the board approved the closure. The motion followed a 10-minute executive session held under the personnel exception that included Home Health Administrator Kendra Annon and County Clerk Shella Thoman.

Representatives from Accessible Home Health, Debra Bengston and Matt Hessman, had earlier described services their organization could provide to Home Health clients. County staff noted the agency’s financial difficulties as the reason for closure; the minutes do not record a detailed client transition plan or contracts for service transfers.

The record shows the board took formal, unanimous action to close the program; the minutes do not specify whether the county will contract with an outside provider, how current patients will be served after May 15, or staffing changes apart from the personnel discussion. Home Health Administrator Kendra Annon was present for the personnel discussion recorded in the minutes.

The board did not record additional follow-up steps or a timeline for client notifications in the published minutes. The closure will be effective May 15. The county clerk's office holds the full meeting record for public review.