Glacier County extends lease with Northern Pines Rehab and Nursing through June 2026

Glacier County commissioners on Aug. 28 voted to extend the county’s lease with Northern Pines Rehab and Nursing for one year, through June 30, 2026, to keep the facility open while county officials and the operator negotiate longer‑term options.

The county’s presenter summarized a post‑pandemic shakeout in which many nursing homes across the state closed or changed operators and said the extension would give both the county and the current manager time to consider either a purchase or a long‑term lease. “Both parties now wish to extend the term of the lease through 06/30/2026, while they negotiate a new lease agreement and a purchase option,” the presenter said.

Why it matters: County officials said preserving the nursing facility keeps local long‑term care available for Glacier County residents and avoids displacing current patients. The presenter said Glacier County has invested in the building — including a new roof and siding repairs — and that the county “has spent about $100,000 to keep it open,” an approximate figure provided during the meeting.

The county described a narrow set of options: negotiate a longer lease (officials estimated the operator may seek a 10‑ to 20‑year commitment), pursue a sale of the facility to the operator, or continue county ownership and manage a different long‑term arrangement. The presenter emphasized the shared goal: “If it’s open now … then let’s go ahead and keep it as is.” (Attribution: Unidentified Speaker 4.)

Commission discussion focused on logistics around staffing for assisted living, state regulatory requirements for opening assisted‑living beds, and contingency plans if federal or state Medicaid and Medicare funding changes. Commissioners acknowledged uncertainty about state and federal funding but said local steps were required to maintain capacity.

The motion to extend the lease for one year was made by an unidentified commissioner and seconded by another commissioner; the voice vote was unanimous. The presenter said she would collect signatures, forward the amendment to the tenant and the county attorney, and return a completed document to the operator.

Next steps: County staff plan to form a county team and begin negotiations after the start of the new year to evaluate purchase or long‑term lease options. No final sale or long‑term lease was approved at the Aug. 28 meeting.

Votes at a glance: Motion to extend Northern Pines lease through 06/30/2026 — approved by voice vote (unanimous).