Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nursing Home Facility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves multiple nursing-home capital projects; health staff report staffing, census and financial updates
Summary
The committee authorized a series of bonding-funded capital projects for the county-operated nursing facility and heard updates on staffing, census, finances and a pending state complaint survey; staff also reported hiring four nurses and ongoing census pressures.
The Orange County Health and Mental Health Committee approved supplemental capital appropriations for several projects at the county-operated nursing facility and received operational updates on staffing, census and finance.
Approved capital items presented as coming from a 2023 facility condition assessment include a water-monitoring system ($215,170 bonding, project #129), replacement of various awnings ($25,000 bonding, project #126), fire-door improvements ($269,500 bonding, project #130), main kitchen fire-suppression upgrades ($42,500 bonding, project #130), above-ground water-storage tank improvements ($166,500 bonding, project #148) and replacement of domestic hot-water equipment ($115,500 bonding, project #152). Presenters said many projects were listed as priority level 1 in the assessment and that some costs can be recovered through the capital component of the facility’s rate.
Lawrence Stiggett Van Du (staff member) presented the capital list and said the facility will put some projects out to bid and may return for additional funding after RFP results. He also said county leaders are revising the 2025 capital plan because the facility condition assessment identified more urgent work than the current plan can cover.
Committee members were told the water-tank project is a Type II action that requires no further environmental review. Staff also referenced federal and state drinking-water rules and the Safe Drinking Water Act as part of the justification for maintaining storage infrastructure.
On operations, staff reported recruitment progress and continuing census challenges. The facility’s April average census was 62.57% (reported as 62.26% for April) and the presentation listed payer mix as roughly 76.75% Medicaid, just under 3% Medicare HMO and 13.65% Medicare. Presenters said private-pay representation declined year over year (from about 13.78% to 5.31%) and that they are investigating the cause. Because of staffing constraints the facility consolidated units from nine open units to seven, reducing operational capacity to 240 beds to align staff with resident needs.
Financial reporting items included reconciled results through April 2025 and that audited financial statements for 2024 remain in draft; staff expected to present final audited results to the committee next month. The facility also reported a payroll-data (PBJ) audit for the first quarter of 2024 that produced no significant findings.
Committee members asked about prioritization and timelines; presenters said the facility will return with an updated capital plan and noted that many projects originate from the February 2023 facility assessment.
All capital appropriations listed above were approved by voice vote. Staff said some projects will return after bids are received and that the county will adjust the capital plan to sequence the highest-priority work first.
