Williams County commissioners consider up to $75,000 safety net for The Heights after Hillside warns of possible shortfall

Williams County commissioners discussed a letter from Hillside Country Living asking the county to assure continued payments to The Heights independent‑living apartments if revenues fall short through Dec. 31, 2026.

Commissioner Terry N. Rummel said the letter requests the board “assure continued payments by agreeing to this request not to exceed $75,000 through 12/31/2026,” and commissioners added the item to the agenda for consideration. Rummel and Commissioner Scott A. Lirot described the action as preventative — a safety net rather than an immediate cash transfer.

Why it matters: The Heights provides independent‑living apartments for people 55 and older. Commissioners said occupancy and seasonal moves have created temporary shortfalls, and staff indicated a county guarantee would prevent missed vendor and administrative payments if revenues lag.

Discussion and context

Rummel said the fund “has notoriously been okay” but recounted a prior intra‑fund transfer of several thousand dollars to stabilize the account; Lirot and another commissioner corrected the recollection, estimating a prior transfer of roughly $40,000–$50,000 about a year and a half earlier. “If they rent one apartment then they are breaking even,” Rummel said, describing the slim monthly margin for the operation.

Staff and commissioners described community support and an internal donation account used for resident activities. One commissioner said the donations total more than $400,000 and are being used for amenities such as a pool table and a planned shuffleboard table to improve resident engagement and marketability.

The board noted The Heights has 17 apartments and emphasized the facility is independent living — residents “have your own car; you come and go as you want,” a commissioner said — and urged outreach and advertising to improve occupancy.

What was decided

The meeting record shows the board approved adding the Hillside letter to the agenda and then discussed the request; no formal vote or resolution authorizing an interfund transfer or disbursal was recorded in the session minutes. Commissioners expressed support for evaluating the finances and for preventative steps, but the transcript does not record a final authorization of funds.

Next steps

Staff indicated they will review the facility’s checkbook and finances to determine the timing and amount of any need. The matter may return to a future session if commissioners opt to formalize a transfer or other assistance.