Martha T. Berry reports 96% census, warns of multimillion-dollar building needs

Kevin, a representative from Martha T. Berry, told the Macomb County Health and Human Services Committee on Dec. 3 that the facility’s census was 96% and that several building systems require near- and longer-term work.

He said the facility currently has four beds offline — two for maintenance and two reserved to house incapacitated inmates from the county jail — and that the site remains “seven points away” from a five-star rating. “We’re gonna be coasting to the end of the year pretty well on that,” he told commissioners when summarizing the year-to-date budget.

Why it matters: Martha T. Berry is a county-affiliated long‑term care facility whose capital needs could require significant county funding and multi‑department coordination. Committee members questioned the timeline and cost of replacing major systems and asked whether grant funding and county purchasing power could be leveraged.

Key details from the presentation: - Census and staffing: The representative reported a 96% census, compared with a state average he cited around 74.4%. He said four beds are currently offline for the reasons above. - HVAC and PTACs: The presentation noted rooftop air‑handling units have exceeded useful life and need replacement. The facility has been upgrading resident rooms with PTAC (personal terminal air conditioning) units that can accept HEPA filters; an initial PTAC purchase estimated at $225,000 rose to more than $330,000. A full rooftop HVAC replacement was described as an estimated multimillion-dollar project (presenter said “over 3.2” million). The presenter described the rooftop replacements as a future capital project rather than something the facility can fund immediately. - Boilers and heat: Boilers were recently replaced to provide consistent hot water; the heating system uses boilers circulating hot water and gas-fired air handling for rooftop units. - Transfer switches and morgue: The presenter said work on power transfer switches is “a little more complicated” because of connections serving the morgue and noted past transfer‑switch fires and fused equipment requiring coordination with Facilities and Operations (F&O). - Elevators and regulatory timing: The presenter said elevator work is required within a multi‑year timeframe (the transcript records both 2026 and 2028 when discussing deadlines). Commissioners asked staff to confirm the exact regulatory deadline. - Generators and backup power: The facility has multiple generators (two diesel, one natural gas, as reported) and backup diesel fuel capacity the presenter said would sustain operation about 36 hours; roughly 40% of the facility’s electrical load is currently backed by generators via red‑plugs wired to emergency power. - Capital cost context and cash position: The presenter described the building as “big old building” that has improved from poor to good condition after several capital interventions but noted capital shortfalls. He reported about a 42‑day cash position at the time of the meeting and acknowledged the facility does not have a six‑month reserve.

Commissioner questions focused on timing and scale of replacements, generator coverage, whether energy‑savings grants had been pursued, and whether county F&O could combine purchasing to lower costs. The presenter said the facility has applied for some grants, was awarded a grant through the Michigan Public Health Institute that helped with PTACs, and typically coordinates with F&O on purchases and security contracts.

Action taken: The committee voted to receive and file the Martha T. Berry monthly report; the motion passed unanimously.

What’s next: Commissioners asked for follow-up information on elevator regulatory deadlines, the detailed HVAC cost estimate and options for combining purchases across county buildings. The presenter offered to organize a site tour and to return with additional data.