Portage County Health Care Center. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Officials in Portage County have decided to delay the choice of selling the Portage County Health Care Center, in a vote Thursday.
County Executive John Pavelski brought the topic to the committee that oversees the center, saying the county has two feasible options at the moment with the facility: going to another referendum or considering selling the property. “Skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin that have closed since 2016 to 2022: a total of 51. These conditions and these problems are not new only to our health care facility,” Pavelski said, addressing the committee.
There had been a referendum recently passed in 2022, which aimed to replace the existing facility, but the financial number was deemed too small to make it happen.
People filled the Portage County Annex to show support for another referendum. “We passed two, not one, but two referendums where the voters overwhelmingly said we’ll pay more taxes because this institution is so important to us,” said Nancy Roppe of Stevens Point.
There were a few in attendance in favor of selling the facility.
“You make a lot of very valid points, Mr. Executive, and I think a) the voters deserve another chance to speak up, and b) you can make those points to the voters,” said Shaun Przybylski, a committee member.
The agreement that passed the committee was no action will be taken on selling the facility until a referendum can be posed, which was an amendment raised by Przybylski.
The Portage County Health Care Center currently houses around two dozen patients.
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