[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6356944,"mediaKeyId","2215695-683cccc7761ba7e0dd331812066a0285","parentId",2215695,"title","Commissioners briefed on McLeod nursing‑home renovations; staff raises sole‑source option for follow‑on work","audioSeconds",142,"startMs",2064000,"endMs",2206000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215695-683cccc7761ba7e0dd331812066a0285&start=2064&end=2206","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215695-683cccc7761ba7e0dd331812066a0285/thumbnail_2064000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6356944/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Commissioners-briefed-on-McLeod-nursinghome-renovations-staff-raises-solesource-option-for-followon-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356944-bb2e22d6341a4b7a43eea926c91c6f9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775206493&Signature=F0BSeYaWf8W2taWy1OwD5djjY5ie63dsPaqIeLMRmVE0Z4pzyiumZtaFhe9VQMu1LIAmjRSwoE7Sw50aOmNvp9sLZMTmZd5RUqx0-hldP4XomlIjRj8Wm6~0m3oq5zr0Mq4QIBO5lOsXX0JtvK7w6zFA3xjCaPjxzFSUq436FCGaamQFPvjDrTd2-XqdieA~iXKpLC~fUCvN80eZ13iCYjguWUBQwCd4jWTlwDOI7HbFpYQfpevI~2NTlctBlgbD50~limbMvHajhyidwEeHMHEje-5~zrXm5JvVuqwsl3VIJFuFDYMbSGjdiC5IPpN30tfYZAsZrOyEO45FX55CTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","County staff and commissioners discussed the McLeod assisted‑living and nursing‑home renovation project and planned a site tour for the nursing‑home subcommittee to accompany the subcommittee’s budget review.

Staff said the team intends to complete the subcommittee’s budget review and then lead a walk‑through of assisted living and the Fourth and Fifth floors for subcommittee members so they can review the renovations and ask questions. Staff identified Anthony Mento from SMP and Keith from Harvey Construction as key project partners and praised their work on schedule and under budget for the assisted‑living portion.

Staff said the contractors met an accelerated timeline and that, if the board approves bonding for the next phase of work, the county may approach the board about a sole‑source award to the same contractors to preserve continuity and speed execution. Staff characterized the contractors’ performance as a key reason for recommending consideration of sole sourcing for closely related follow‑on work, while noting the board would still have opportunity to review and approve such a request.

Commissioners scheduled the nursing‑home subcommittee meeting and a tentative delegation meeting in March to coincide with budget actions; staff said the tour would follow the subcommittee’s budget review and that meeting logistics (time and location) would be circulated. No sole‑source contract was approved at the meeting; staff said they will return to the board with formal requests if bonding and procurement steps proceed.

Commissioners and staff asked for continued updates and participation from project partners as the project moves toward bond funding and potential contract actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Merrimack County NH, Board of Commissioners Meeting 01/23/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff and project partners updated commissioners on renovations at the McLeod assisted‑living and nursing‑home facilities, outlined a plan to tour completed work with the nursing‑home subcommittee, and signaled the board may be asked to consider a sole‑source award to the current contractors if bonding is approved.","taxTitle","Merrimack County , New Hampshire","taxId",52781,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6356949,"Votes at a glance: Commissioners approve officer elections, temporary borrowing, accounting and policy items",1075,11000,1086000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215695-683cccc7761ba7e0dd331812066a0285&start=11&end=1086","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215695-683cccc7761ba7e0dd331812066a0285/thumbnail_11000.jpg","/articles/6356949/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Votes-at-a-glance-Commissioners-approve-officer-elections-temporary-borrowing-accounting-and-policy-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356949-2a1c066fc3f12d9fc3ccde61481cc9f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775206493&Signature=exFOXJN-87DBEsdTuW1y5fwbFHFZGjH4QpXNvIc5-HLNBmFLY31UZ1rK-E4D4nVqDFekKS-G-Q0LUhQHGQaJ4pHNDwxnlonhcllLiyUv6~LHq2MOE7uexEENX7~IsyINtVX~uN15KiMz2hrnZfuc24F1j-50BCPE-l-c9foWCXzd1IaTOKdBiaFeIAXh1T6EkZHnTzpUbafvZr6hwRz-BJWuS0fHxSHeziHbJtPj3-vuo~hldchveNZRr6Xi0DwEcg304~dgI2OG6P6DNuipEljk6qi0~-9e~QQF7Mh2SimiCZ5uqAwai104H9rJ4l8ahpnOSolNRENS50dtj4LieQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Merrimack County Board of Commissioners recorded a series of unanimous voice votes on organizational and financial items during the meeting.

The board elected Stewart Tracey as chair, elected Commissioner Loveland as vice chair and appointed Commissioner Shurtleff as clerk. Each motion was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.

On financing, the board approved a motion to authorize temporary (TAN) borrowing of up to $30,000,000 to cover projected cash‑flow shortfalls, following a staff presentation that estimated a December cash‑flow deficit of about $41,000,000 unless borrowing occurred. County staff explained the expected TAN size at that time would likely be $26 million to $30 million; the board approved a motion to borrow up to $30,000,000.

On accounting, the board approved an annual bad‑debt allowance adjustment for the county nursing home accounts receivable. Staff said the board would record a bad‑debt expense of $204,033 and increase the bad‑debt allowance (a contra‑receivable) so year‑end write‑offs are drawn from that reserve; no actual write‑offs were performed at the meeting.

On personnel and policy items, the board approved reimbursing employee mileage at the federal/GSA/IRS rate of $0.70 per mile, and approved disposal and public sale of specified surplus property including furniture, equipment and a plow truck.

The consent agenda was approved by voice vote earlier in the meeting. Each motion on the record was moved and seconded and carried; the transcript records the outcomes as \"Motion carries\" with unanimous aye responses but does not supply roll‑call tallies by individual commissioner name.","The Merrimack County Board of Commissioners approved election of officers, authorized short‑term borrowing, adjusted nursing‑home bad‑debt allowances and approved several administrative policies and disposals in unanimous voice votes recorded as \"motion carries.\"",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6356953,"Commissioners discuss Newbury pause from Merrimack Community Power after New Hampshire Electric Co-op rate cut",617,165000,782000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215695-683cccc7761ba7e0dd331812066a0285&start=165&end=782","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215695-683cccc7761ba7e0dd331812066a0285/thumbnail_165000.jpg","/articles/6356953/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Commissioners-discuss-Newbury-pause-from-Merrimack-Community-Power-after-New-Hampshire-Electric-Co-op-rate-cut","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356953-ca4723cb676dfb304b98b4fc7cb71b01/orig.mp4?Expires=1775206493&Signature=PArkqpx0tjMsiH~UVOaUyVQOo1WaR~NONAS4HBbrBXSt9lUh45PQs~UW8QBkQNn53lfkPaqO6BEe44Pt6IHbQgC-Tbdku2tAt7gRiRn1mdHF3TwDVbubvBYMuJ9OlPQg4-fcVCEd7g0DUKeW6GAHxm6I~D-deQzYomMOaRPMC0TTrihDhGd00WvF2I90Orr0epFQPHbBNbcLAtFoP8w7wHdTgBj3yrP2Z4BozKoNI8wF5mK-XPEoMIiBbuzhzeTWERlTfoAuOB94~GXwcXelg9PyVIaMQqTsjF7mSU~mNiew9tK3MCaqXaKJKcmgBCrWnQ3QQyLrFXUlyRd3-etEsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Merrimack County Board of Commissioners members spent an extended portion of their meeting discussing the Town of Newbury’s decision to pause enrollment in Merrimack Community Power after the New Hampshire Electric Co‑op announced a lower rate than Community Power.

County staff described two immediate responses: community power intends to mail or card affected customers explaining the rate change and options to switch, and staff are researching a longer-term change that would exclude co‑op customers from automatic migration so affected customers could opt back in on their own schedule.

The discussion centered on how electricity rates are set and how that interacts with enrollment flows. County staff said supplier rates generally follow six‑month cycles set through a bidding and Public Utilities Commission (PUC) process for larger utilities such as Unitil and Eversource; the New Hampshire Electric Co‑op operates outside that same timeline and may set rates independently, producing sudden divergences that prompt customer moves between suppliers. County staff said the mismatch in timelines and the co‑op’s separate pricing mechanics have produced customer confusion and “a degree of frustration.”

Commissioners and staff explored operational fixes. One option described was to remove co‑op customers from the automatic migration process so customers on the co‑op would remain with that supplier by default and could opt into Community Power on a 30‑day cycle instead of being moved automatically. County staff said that approach would be tested while Community Power continues reviewing migration and enrollment rules.

Commissioners asked about the scale of the effect in neighboring towns and whether the co‑op’s recent foray into internet service indicates cross‑subsidies or other business models that let the co‑op offer lower bundled prices in some areas. County staff noted that New Hampshire Electric Co‑op covers significant but uneven territory — including large areas on the Seacoast and parts of towns in the county — and that customers’ supplier depends on historical service territories.

The commissioners did not take a formal vote on Community Power policy at the meeting; staff said Community Power will proceed with the customer mailer and continue analyzing regulatory and operational changes to reduce churn.

County staff flagged that Community Power’s business plan could be affected if the co‑op continues to undercut rates in ways that trigger recurrent customer migration. Commissioners asked staff to keep the board informed and to share any proposed changes to migration rules or enrollment notices as they are developed.","Merrimack County commissioners heard a detailed briefing on why the Town of Newbury paused enrollment in Merrimack Community Power after a recent rate decrease from the New Hampshire Electric Co‑op, and discussed outreach, migration mechanics and regulatory differences affecting customers’ ability to opt in or out.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners briefed on McLeod nursing‑home renovations; staff raises sole‑source option for follow‑on work

Votes at a glance: Commissioners approve officer elections, temporary borrowing, accounting and policy items

Commissioners discuss Newbury pause from Merrimack Community Power after New Hampshire Electric Co-op rate cut