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Commissioners, residents debate future of aging county hospital facility
Summary
A resident raised detailed concerns about structural and sewer problems at the county's hospital facility and urged a maintenance plan; commissioners discussed options including assisted living, sale, rental agreements, and the costs of upgrading an aging building.
The Daniels County meeting opened into an extended discussion about an aging hospital facility, with a resident speaker describing water damage, cast-iron sewer pipes and long-standing maintenance shortfalls and urging the county to adopt a maintenance agreement rather than walk away from the property.
The resident (speaker 5) said staff had been told in writing to "hold your water" and not perform maintenance, and described a "terrible" sewer-gas smell and visible structural issues. The speaker told commissioners, "I'll not write a dime for the new facility," explaining a preference to direct private contributions toward maintenance rather than capital construction. Commissioners and staff discussed possible reuses — assisted living, housing an extension office, or leasing the property — and questioned whether the county should act as landlord given heating and upgrade costs.
Commissioners noted several constraints: past audit reports flagged urgent repair items (electrical hazards), some parts of the building date to 1952 and have different construction periods, and major upgrades could be costly. The conversation mentioned possible rental amounts and donor or district contributions (a resident referenced a notional figure of "$50,000 a year" in the context of a rental or support agreement), but precise funding commitments or a formal plan were not established during the meeting.
