Commissioners Agree to Sell Health Center
A final company is yet to be named, but a private company will indeed soon take over operation of the Armstrong County Health Center. (KP File Photo)
by Jonathan Weaver
Though a particular company was not selected, Armstrong County Commissioners agreed yesterday morning to indeed sell the Armstrong County Health Center in Kittanning.
Commissioner Chair Pat Fabian received a motion by George Skamai and a second by Jason Renshaw to sell the facility “due to continued financial losses.”
A research committee - made up of the three County Commissioners, Executive Director of Administration Dan Lucovich, Assistant Director of Administration Jennifer Long, two union employees, current Armstrong County Health Center Administrator Tom Parsons and a retired business individual that was involved in the nursing homes at Sugar Creek Rest in Worthington - toured a Butler County nursing home at the end of November and a personal care home in Philadelphia during the first full week of December. Both facilities are owned by the lone two bidders
“We toured two facilities in the Philadelphia area; we’ve conducted follow-up interviews and had some discussion as a committee. The Board of Commissioners through that process (came) to a determination to sell the county health center,” Fabian said. “Still looking at a couple different paths at this point.”
Skamai reiterated that committee members will continue to analyze bids “from two very qualified bidders” for the downtown Kittanning facility. Even more bidders expressed interest following the public bid opening.
“We just formalized the decision to move forward in that direction, considering one of about three or four paths,” Skamai said.
Of the many details Director of Administration Jennifer Long mentioned, she also added that administrators decreased the allocation for the Armstrong County in 2017 and “right-sized” many departments.
Health Center Administrator Tom Parsons denied a request for comment after the meeting adjourned.
At the beginning of November, commissioners witnessed the opening of two bids at their public meeting. Premier Healthcare Management, of Philadelphia, submitted a purchase price of $5.75 million and Center Management Group, of Inwood, New York, submitted a bid of $5.6 million.
Local News | jweaver December 16, 2016
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By savvynewshound, December 16, 2016 @ 10:55 AM
It’s unfortunate, but as a county, we can’t continue to lose a million dollars a year by owning and managing this facility.
More good financially responsible decisions made by our current group of commissioners.
By jorn jensen, December 16, 2016 @ 6:09 PM
Put it out for bid again. More interested bidders means stiffer competition and possibly higher bids.
I agree with savvynewshound. With me, our commissioners’ grade point average continues to climb.
Let’s start looking at the Belmont.
By sabrinafair, December 17, 2016 @ 12:34 AM
Congratulations… more job losses coming. Good job, Commissioners! I’ll be voting for your opponents next election. You can’t screw with people like this and expect everything to be fine next time around. You didn’t listen to what your constituents wanted. Sad that you’re abandoning the older residents of the county that need the Health Center. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
By hawkeye, December 17, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Good financial responsibility. Hhhmm. Maybe the Board of Commissioners could afford the Controller the staff to do her job with all that extra money.
Maybe the 20 staff the Commissioners are choosing to cut could count pumpkins in their spare time.
By worthingtonman, December 18, 2016 @ 11:13 AM
Kudos to the commissioners! Now for the BelMont!!!
By tiredoftheBS, December 19, 2016 @ 1:51 AM
So eager to get rid of the health center…congrats to those who THINK this is a good idea. Also a drain on the county finances is the prized Belmont Complex. But I seriously doubt that “jewel” will be touched.
By jorn jensen, December 19, 2016 @ 7:31 AM
sabrinafair, You’re making an assumption that the sale of the health center equates to job losses. Why? Current employees can apply for jobs with the purchaser. The purchaser can’t run the place without people.
Stand back and look at it from 40,000 feet - here’s an operation losing money every year and some outsider is willing to pay millions of dollars for it. Whose math is off?
This polar opposite situation should tell you everything about government-run business in the private sector.
By savvynewshound, December 19, 2016 @ 11:34 AM
Hawkeye…Yes anytime you take a million dollar loss off the books from the taxpayers, it’s a financially responsible move.
As for Myra’s office, I’m still looking for the number of employees she has compared to surrounding counties. Is this office being run efficiently?
By sabrinafair, December 19, 2016 @ 11:45 AM
Jorn, you’re ASSUMING that the new owners will keep all of the staff. Most of the time, that doesn’t happen, and they bring in their own staff, which equates to job losses, which results in more unemployment for an already high unemployment county. Funny that they say it’s losing money, because I remember reading in two newspapers that said the Health Center was operating in the black. Who to believe? No one. It’s a bad idea all over.
By worthingtonman, December 19, 2016 @ 12:30 PM
For those of you concerned about the wellbeing of the patients don’t be. Just do a little research on Sunnyview in Butler. Since it was purchased from Butler County, it has thrived. A massive remodel was done and the staffing was upgraded. It went from being a complete loss to a respectable home. Private Businesses know so much more about running a business than a county does. Sabrina start thinking about the people in the home and what it can become instead of worrying about your job or county benefits. This sale will be a blessing to the residents. If you have any questions talk to the folks at Sunnyview.
By sabrinafair, December 20, 2016 @ 3:11 AM
I never said I worked there.
By Just sayin, December 20, 2016 @ 9:44 AM
I’m with sabrinafair. Are you joking? Sunnyview? Older folks run away from that place. It’s practically in the boonies.
The cost of private nursing homes and assisted living places are way higher than the Health Center’s cost. Plus, it is very inconvenient to have these private homes out of town—loved ones can’t visit as often or perhaps visit rarely due to lack of transportation.
This is the reality.
And these bidders aren’t going to keep the employees from the Health Center. THEY WILL NOT hire them. They will tear the building down.
If the Health Center is in such “bad” shape and not making profits, why would ANYONE bid on it? Oh, and the Health Center residents and workers are being appeased by being told that they will work for the new owners, and the current residents can remain there. And somehow there will be magic and it will make a profit and be different. You pro-closers are the openings of where the sun doesn’t shine.
The current employees need to quit and leave the commissioners, Jorn, War-thing-tin-man, Hawkeye, and savvy to work there and see for themselves what they will be doing to the poor and desperate residents. They can bad mouth the Center all they want. The REALITY is that they are ALL SCROOGES— before he was visited by the ghosts.
Money Money Money.
BS—the Health Center IS NOT in the RED!!
I will NOT vote for these commissioners. They are just young little brats who are out to prove how efficient they are at the costs of others.
I hope they can afford senior care when they get older. Because they WILL be seniors someday,
Listen to the Ghost of Christmas Future.
By Just sayin, December 20, 2016 @ 9:57 AM
And…if the private nursing homes and assisted living homes are so great, why do I see CONSTANT ads for employment there? It’s NOT because they are expanding. Fair Wind Manor is one of them.
They are probably making money because the employees are the ones who have crappy benefits and pay, and the cost of living there is horrendous —taking all their life savings.
Shame on your bah humbuggers. May you constantly roam the Earth, dragging your money chests behind you.
By Just sayin, December 20, 2016 @ 10:02 AM
GOD! BLESS US— EVERYONE!!
By savvynewshound, December 20, 2016 @ 11:13 AM
Just sayin..are you suggesting that the county stay in the health center business, even if it’s losing money?
Everyone wants our taxes to go down and have the county run more effectively, but they are against every tough decision that needs made.
By ktown_kid, December 20, 2016 @ 11:47 AM
I said this numerous times. These 3 clueless clowns that we call the Armstrong County commissioners are out of their league.
By savvynewshound, December 20, 2016 @ 12:32 PM
ktown_kid…you seem to have an issue with every decision our commissioners make. can you enlighten us on your plans or at least what you think the best decision is? (and why)
it’s easy for us to sit here and question these guys, but if we don’t have a plan or alternative, we really don’t add anything to the conversation other than complaining.
By worthingtonman, December 20, 2016 @ 7:15 PM
@justsaying
You obviously don’t know where Sunnyview is. My wife works in the nursing home business and I assure you from talking with her I know far more about this subject then you do. Sunnyview gets nothing but praise since turning private. Do you know that the majority of the people in private nursing homes pay nothing? Out of 95 beds in the home my wife works in 6 of the people pay and 10 have insurance that pays. All the rest are paid through medical or Medicaid / Social Security. So most people can send grandma to the Health Center or a private home. You obviously have ties to the Health Center and are letting them guide you into causing fear into the seniors. We should not allow a Union to drive public funds. There is a reason the union members fear losing the county as their keepers. Let them work on their own merits. Just like most of the people in this county do. Enjoy your Christmas with your children!!!!
By sickofpayingforit, December 20, 2016 @ 11:37 PM
Million bucks a year deficit. Had to go. Outstanding leadership by the commissioners making this decision.
Private sector employees get downsized all the time. It is a tough pill for the employees there, understandably, and ultimately the best business decision meant they had to sell. If I was in that situation, I would be planning on demonstrating the value I added to the place during my tenure to the buyers who should at least do one on ones with current workforce.
By sickofpayingforit, December 20, 2016 @ 11:41 PM
@ just saying
Yet another bleeding heart post.
The pay scale is set by supply and demand in the private sector. If nobody applies, they will raise the pay. Obviously they are getting workers if their pay is allegedly low. Also, anyone filling out an application is ASKING those places to hire them at the understood rate of pay. What’s the problem here?????
By Just sayin, December 21, 2016 @ 6:29 AM
Ms. Savvy: As I wrote, the Health Center is NOT in the RED…thus, it’s NOT losing money. It’s a bunch of BS. You’re not so savvy.
And WHY aren’t they selling the Belmont complex, instead? It is not making money. It’s because the Three Humbuggers have children who use the Belmont. It’s for the rich. The Health Center provides care for a lot of the lower/middle income elderly and for some physically challenged adults.
As I wrote a few months ago, the Health Center has its ups and downs —I’ve researched this back into the 70s. You can’t control the ebb and flow of whom needs its services.
Selling the Center is a political move. It’s their idea of progress.
Answer the question— how are the private homes for the elderly better when they constantly have a huge turnover? That is a HUGE RED FLAG! Sort of like…common sense not to live there, too, eh?
By Just sayin, December 21, 2016 @ 6:33 AM
I had an alternative—sell the Center building and move to the renovated jail. OR switch buildings and make the jailbirds renovate each place (while they stay at the current Health Center).
By jorn jensen, December 21, 2016 @ 7:41 AM
Wow, worthingtonman, you’re coming around. “We should not allow a Union to drive public funds.”
Let’s privatize the school district. You on-board?
Oh, oh, wait - that’s different.
By worthingtonman, December 21, 2016 @ 7:44 AM
@justsayin
Just another point to prove that you do not know what you are spouting abut. Most nursing home/ Rehab centers want turnover. There is more money innit for them to keep beds turning. Most Nursing home/ Rehab Centers limit the number of long term beds they keep.
By savvynewshound, December 21, 2016 @ 8:09 AM
I would think providing the profit/loss of the Health Center would be very easy for local government to produce. However, when they show the loss, the naysayers will just claim “cooking the books”. If the Health Center is indeed not losing money, what benefit is there to selling? You say political move…honestly, I think politically this is a negative for these guys because the public always “feels bad” when tough decisions are made.
By jorn jensen, December 21, 2016 @ 8:37 AM
I agree savvynewshound. I give the present commissioners a passing grade. The public doesn’t like tough decisions and these guys are willing to make the tough decisions.
I think back through past commissioners and recall the spending of $27 million on the Alqueda-proof 911 thiefdom and the growth of it in people. $3.2 million 10 year Motorola radio dusting-off program bought by commissioners and 911 people from Motorola - better buy Motorola stock. Are we all that much safer now from when they were a little outfit in the courthouse basement? And then there was pornogate. Nothing like making the news. You just can’t make this stuff up.
By Just sayin, December 21, 2016 @ 9:27 AM
First of all, I do not have ties to the Health Center. I do know people who live and work there. I do not belong to a union, but I wish I did.
Second of all, dumb A, War-thing-Tin-Man, “high turnover” was referring to STAFF, not residents. You have ties to Sunnyview; naturally you’re going to glorify it. Staff aren’t so great when they allowed an Alzheimer’s patient to roam the street…real secure.
Also, there are only so many beds in a private home (far fewer than the Health Center’s). Your comment, “Most Nursing home/ Rehab Centers limit the number of long term beds they keep.” Did you THINK before you wrote that? Where do all the hundreds of elderly go when these small private homes are full?
We OWE it to the elderly to take care of them, even IF the Center was making a loss.
The only loss was through past commissioners who hired AFFINITY to help them make more money. What a crock.
You’re all full of it and antagonistic. You enjoy misery and watching people suffer. You’d sing a different tune if it were happening to your loved one.
What would Jesus do, you greedy b*s$terds.?
By jorn jensen, December 21, 2016 @ 11:27 AM
Just sayin, first of all……., second of all……, this isn’t 2nd grade - it is a serious topic.
What is so wrong, to you, to take care of our elderly in a facility that is making a profit?
You want to make it a debate of taking care/not taking care of the elderly instead of doing it at a profit instead of a loss. Get off the sobbing - the common goal is to take care of the elderly. Just do it right.
And it is tards, not terds, when you’re going to revert to your default name-calling.