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Board of Commissioners details staff moves and room conversions after Hyder closure
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Summary
County commissioners were briefed on the closure of the Hyder facility and the completed transition of residents and staff to Riverside, including union-required notices, four-week payouts, room conversions for single baths, and an expected timetable for cost savings.
The Board of Commissioners heard a report that the transition following the closure of the Hyder facility is complete and that Riverside has been prepared to receive residents and staff.
Mister Bauer told the board, "we've completed the transition between Hyder and Riverside," and described how nurses were reassigned and how the county followed the union contract when notifying staff. He said some Hyder nurses declined the shifts offered; two nurses were reassigned to a house correction post and two to Riverside on 7-to-7 shifts to fill vacancies and cover upcoming vacations.
The update emphasized personnel notices and payouts tied to the union contract. "Anybody that was working has gotten a letter that's required by [the] union contract," Bauer said, and added that staff will be paid "4 weeks pay plus whatever time they have on the books." He noted the county's internal ceiling on the reported additional payout, saying no employee had an excess of $200 under that payment policy.
Jody, who led the facilities update, described how the county converted three storage spaces and several offices into four rooms for residents and a family room configuration at Riverside, prioritizing single-bath layouts. "We have moved 3 storage spaces that are on the opposite side of the unit," she said, and outlined work under way: stripping walls, replacing one windowsill, redoing and sealing floors, installing code base and running IT cabling. She said crews expected painting and floor work to be substantially complete by the end of the next week.
Bauer told commissioners the county expects to realize some savings beginning in the second quarter, with the bulk of the savings materializing in the third and fourth quarters as a result of closing Hyder. He also reported that Hyder was empty: "The last 2 residents left today," and that the facility expected to be COVID-free as of the following day based on morning reports. Two residents had mild congestion but did not require hospitalization or antiviral treatment, the report said; the infection-prevention staff and Chris Hamilton concluded the residents did not qualify for the expensive antivirals.
The chair thanked staff, including David, for quickly preparing Riverside and noted the county was still processing requests from people interested in reopening placements; some applicants were qualified and others were not. The board signaled agreement to move into an executive session to discuss contract negotiations and proceeded accordingly.
The board provided no further details in public about the executive session topic. The transition, staffing decisions, union-mandated notices and the timeline for finishing room renovations were the primary developments reported at the meeting.
