[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6303850,"mediaKeyId","2470373-5bb5f96404557145f26343d5b32ec0c3","parentId",2470373,"title","Commissioners approve reclassification to add administrative admissions staff at county nursing home","audioSeconds",289,"startMs",646000,"endMs",935000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2470373-5bb5f96404557145f26343d5b32ec0c3&start=646&end=935","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2470373-5bb5f96404557145f26343d5b32ec0c3/thumbnail_646000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303850/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Commissioners-approve-reclassification-to-add-administrative-admissions-staff-at-county-nursing-home","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303850-4ba654dcda315bd53daa358509e8df85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169148&Signature=LsRpMzO5ZdEJlLybagnb4CaV7~rAfE57YSwo7QyzV4T4FODGBY8Y3AVfEqxBS2zq1wGJsuCJCyRRRNR9ToEfrVVJtiAFycAEw-ZJeE7etK6p7gwpK1oFytCewRMmVyCBMBuyMUGUJUMXZMDfCVpEdDrU5i9U2FL9~TMCFv2o1ZkX164AFL7eBxh3PMqEVTRk-b8K6oNI9J09zeoTrfnhgJs5UkT87vOGS3DLRshNQlLINxCzDHssAVyLhs8GIYJOSmcLnLmegJ8W6-jwkgAr7aHs~Zvr-DyOSGMulgMtOEViVMN83CI4rRee6art65lBiPhPZGHYPJ64pZxit4hejQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Merrimack County NH","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","Commissioners approved a reclassification request to move an RN full‑time equivalent (FTE) into an administrative admissions role for the county’s long‑term care operations.

Ross Johnson (county official) and Heather (county staff) explained the change is intended to address increased referral volume, driven in part by the skilled unit reopening and higher referrals from Concord Hospital. Heather said admissions staff handle time‑intensive tasks including intake screens, tours, Medicaid follow‑up and wait‑list management. \"The need comes from the increasing volume that we have for referrals,\" she said.

Staff described the reclassification as a budget‑neutral move within the overall personnel budget that would reduce payroll by about $28,600 in 2025 compared with prior classifications. A motion to approve the reclassification was made and seconded; commissioners approved the motion by voice vote. No roll‑call tally was recorded on the transcript.

Officials said the reclassification will help admissions respond more quickly to referrals and reduce the risk of losing placements when hospitals send multiple referrals simultaneously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Merrimack County NH, Board of Commissioners Meeting 02/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved reclassifying an RN FTE to administrative admissions to manage increased referral volume and reduce staffing shortfall in admissions and billing for county long‑term care services.","taxTitle","Merrimack County , New Hampshire","taxId",52781,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303855,"Commissioners approve application for $125,000 congressional‑directed funding to replace county servers; grants update reports award status",319,125000,444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2470373-5bb5f96404557145f26343d5b32ec0c3&start=125&end=444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2470373-5bb5f96404557145f26343d5b32ec0c3/thumbnail_125000.jpg","/articles/6303855/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Commissioners-approve-application-for-125000-congressionaldirected-funding-to-replace-county-servers-grants-update-reports-award-status","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303855-036d0b2692532995fcb7727fc3a0a3d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169148&Signature=Cft4DOt~pnUMW6dDQNbmWH7IWGwtxmIweHTbzLn3GA2kD7udCp52SJlcWRqFCxMOF4qMDSR8TtvzEXZnGpp-Z1jElutaYLBiy3SbdTvUiQ58ouvXEOO480Kzge2mGeEQno3XxuguWIA3oQ4Lyiz~beN8TS~l7qZEnv-XoQzJay9t6VEeyJc7MvAmO-AJfPdhh0ynoDnlh2XDFe3xyn2Q2M5p72mEgOo4VBjpaVAatwMZxNfwglyw3t1k8n0mCXhwLXJpdhow~Ku60GXZRaoFIWU06ggcb4sppec-9o3mbp-9HOjG92U4o79AlL6hm9ICjQTtGOiJKKiYw3NlEpX2fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the outset of the meeting county staff requested support to apply for congressionally directed spending of $125,000 to replace 15 servers that support multiple county departments, including the county attorney's office and adult diversion/pretrial services.

Kara Coffey (county staff) said the request would cover hardware, software and five years of technical support and that the existing scale‑computing cluster was identified as end‑of‑life. Tom (IT staff) explained the difference between servers and individual desktops, saying servers \"allow for files as well as domain controllers, authentication\" and support entire departments rather than individual machines. Coffey said the county plans to keep the request under guidance thresholds to avoid larger requests being deprioritized.

A motion to approve the application was made and seconded; commissioners voted by voice to approve the request. No roll‑call vote count was provided on the record.

In a grants management update, staff told commissioners that funds requested by finance for the congressionally directed spending had been received that week and that the county is processing the award so it can pay for the equipment. Staff also reported the energy efficiency and conservation block grant (HVAC upgrade at the nursing home) is nearly complete and that an informal approval had been received for an RSAT (Residential Substance Abuse Treatment) award but a contract had not yet been executed; staff said they would return to the Board when the contract was in hand.

Staff also reviewed prior congressional‑directed requests (mobile data terminals and a greenhouse project) noting some past requests were declined and that the county aims to keep current requests in the recommended size range.","The board voted to approve an application for $125,000 in congressionally directed spending to replace 15 servers serving multiple county departments; staff also reported recent payments, an HVAC grant near completion, and an informal RSAT award pending a contract.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6303860,"Merrimack County officials seek $50M renovation to add assisted‑living and memory care beds at McLeod/Garish Manor campus",1096,1691000,2787000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2470373-5bb5f96404557145f26343d5b32ec0c3&start=1691&end=2787","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2470373-5bb5f96404557145f26343d5b32ec0c3/thumbnail_1691000.jpg","/articles/6303860/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Merrimack-County-officials-seek-50M-renovation-to-add-assistedliving-and-memory-care-beds-at-McLeodGarish-Manor-campus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303860-f66aaece478bed9f6dc9a70a43701c2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169148&Signature=loI4BIEUPXQB9elZKYxcnWoiu5QwKF4IjgWPIsYoWHn9BQ~TYaSLqXIOxE12ra7C906SFV4A91oSjKpB-rbiRsa-6C1bLUPVA8uhF9gyQiVL5w1EuXDZP8QD2Tg7BGn9HdW5ysZbjh~LbeUhPeSNaipMeY7HJcGHF3dYEJt9q~NMfsFYXp8VWtnc9IHTca5vDLoHrdGNoBFebwtsJHxfp-FUU57oUIi~lJv05nlYh4tuiJqBfFGM3WF~9SR3Y0Ku9IIab1TQ-HwB1vp5sUH2DGYqVYHUXZEKuSLAbuSmcsb4RU9SRuJ0YXpbjF66UHPTMmT1NIXjqZNfqiCcqifEag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County officials presented plans to renovate roughly 64,000 square feet of the McLeod building on the Merrimack County campus to add assisted‑living and memory care capacity, increase energy efficiency and create a single, secure entry to the facility.

Ross Johnson, a county official, told commissioners the project would convert underused Fourth and Fifth floors and other space to create about 80 additional assisted‑living beds and a dedicated memory care unit. \"We're anticipating a total of 80 new residents, new beds for assisted living,\" Johnson said during the presentation.

The county said the renovated spaces would provide private rooms with bathrooms and showers, expanded dining and wellness space, and improved staff areas. Anthony (last name not specified), a presenter on the project team, described a planned porte‑cochere and new reception area to create a single controlled point of entry and improve security and wayfinding.

Staff said the work would be phased to limit disruption to current residents. Heather (last name not specified), a county staff member involved in admissions, said the county will involve current residents in relocation planning and expects construction and moves to be staged so residents are not repeatedly displaced. \"We will be involving them in the project so that they have a say,\" Heather said.

Officials described a multi‑year timeline and a funding plan that begins with a delegation vote on March 7 to authorize bonding. The county estimated a roughly $50 million total project cost and a preliminary annual debt service in the neighborhood of $3,000,000 (figure described as approximate by staff) depending on term and market rates. Staff said actual bonding likely would not be executed until 2026 after design and bidding; commissioners would finalize debt decisions later.

Presenters cited two studies used to support the project: a feasibility study by SMP and an analysis by consultant Steve Norton that projected a local assisted‑living bed shortfall. Norton’s study was summarized in the meeting as projecting a need for about 503 additional assisted‑living beds in Merrimack County within 10 years.

Staff and commissioners said the county currently operates Garish Manor (the county’s assisted‑living unit) with 33 beds and that the waiting list is substantial. Heather said, \"At Garish Manor right now, we have about 45 people on the wait list.\" Officials noted the county can operate a higher share of Medicaid‑funded assisted‑living beds than private providers, which helps residents who rely on Medicaid rates.

Speakers framed the proposal as consistent with the county’s mission to serve older residents and described workforce benefits: the assisted‑living level is easier to staff and can serve as a pipeline for nursing and long‑term care careers. Officials said they used ARPA funds for a prior feasibility study and roof replacement and that the proposed renovation would also address aging plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems.

Commissioners and staff discussed contingency plans if the delegation does not approve bonding in March; staff said the county could pause and return to the proposal in a future year but warned that delays could increase costs and risk losing momentum with contractors and design teams. No formal vote on the renovation bond was taken at this meeting.

The county invited delegation members and community stakeholders to tours and said additional materials (the SMP feasibility report and Norton analysis) are available on request.","County staff presented a multi‑phase renovation plan to repurpose vacant floors of the McLeod building into about 80 assisted‑living beds and a memory care unit. The Board of Commissioners discussed funding, timeline and resident relocation; a bond amount will be considered by the county delegation on March 7.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve reclassification to add administrative admissions staff at county nursing home

Commissioners approve application for $125,000 congressional‑directed funding to replace county servers; grants update reports award status

Merrimack County officials seek $50M renovation to add assisted‑living and memory care beds at McLeod/Garish Manor campus