Letter: We must speak again to keep county nursing home open

The St. Croix County Health & Human Services Board meets at 8:30 a.m. this coming Monday at the Health Center in New Richmond. Among the agenda items will be a discussion of the future of our county-owned nursing home.

In November 2008 and again in April 2012 there were two consecutive advisory referenda questioning St. Croix County citizens as to whether they were willing to continue partially supporting our nursing home with their property tax dollars. The outcome of each was a decisive yes.

In the opinion of our County Board Chair Daryl Standafer, however, St. Croix should not be in the nursing home business. In a recent newspaper story, Standafer is quoted as having stated: “It’s a philosophical thing for me,” ... “The county should not be competing with private industry. If we fall short, we just tap into the taxpayers.”

That opinion not withstanding — inconsistent as it may be with the will of the electorate — we continue to be a government of, by, and for the people ... a people who, in this case, have clearly shared with the County Board our unconditional willingness to keep our 5-Star nursing home open.

On Sept. 10 the Health and Human Services Board, soon to be followed by the County Board, will be making a decision on the future of our nursing home. Please contact your representatives in defense of keeping it open.

Tags: opinion, letters, politics