Commission OKs up to $25,000 from Doobie Fund to refresh assisted‑living feasibility study

Carroll County commissioners voted July 13 to authorize up to $25,000 from a county‑held Doobie Fund to refresh a 2020 feasibility study for an assisted‑living and memory‑care addition to the county nursing facility.

The expenditure — approved by voice vote after a motion from a commissioner — directs staff to work with the original study team and architect to update cost estimates and operational assumptions for a proposed 36‑bed, 28,000‑square‑foot addition that the executive director said was originally estimated at roughly $15 million. The refresh will examine whether the project still projects a break‑even or positive return under current market conditions.

During discussion, the county’s executive director and the facility administrator clarified the Doobie Fund’s restrictions. The executive director said the Doobie Fund was established by a private bequest “for Mountain View Nursing Home” and has no specific spending restrictions beyond benefiting the nursing home; commissioners asked for a legal review if any uncertainty remains before future allocations. The administrator noted the study would include both consulting and architect fees to determine whether the 2020 plan remains appropriate.

Commissioners emphasized that authorizing the expenditure does not obligate the county to proceed with construction; the approved $25,000 is to "explore the need and explore the cost." The motion and vote were recorded on the meeting record as an authorization up to the stated amount.

Next steps: staff will contract for the study refresh, report findings to the commission and, if construction remains viable and funding is available, bring any subsequent requests for design or bid documents back for commission consideration.