Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Pineview's Future Discussed With Council

Pineview's future was discussed at Monday night's meeting of the Gurdon City Council.

David Menz, bond counsel for HUGGS, the entity working to purchase the Pineview facility, told the council and audience of the process involved in getting revenue bonds so the structure could be bought.

He said representatives from HUGGS visited with the owner of Pineview and worked out an agreement to buy the building for $300,000.

The HUGGS plan to spend another $320,000 to rehabilitate the facility, and $330,000 more to furnish and equip it with items not currently there.

However, Gurdon's City Council must first pass a bond ordinance to allow the bonds to be sold. Menz said the city would in no way be liable or responsible for repaying the bonds. The money to repay the bonds would be generated from Pineview itself.

Before anything happens in this area, though, a notice must be placed in the newspaper and a public hearing held.

The documentation would then be prepared and be approved by HUGGS and Gurdon's city attorney, Taylor King.

Menz said there are those in residence now who don't want to move, and won't have to. But, he said, Pineview will no longer be a nursing home, but an assisted living facility.

The idea, he said, is to keep the people and jobs in Gurdon, while providing housing for those with low income. This type of facility, Menz said, doesn't have to be licensed by the state.

When residents at the facility are no longer able to care for themselves, he said, they will have to go to a regular nursing home.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said the city has lost its nursing home license and when Pineview moves the nursing home is gone.

Under state law, he said, the owners could move the nursing home to another city in the county, in this case Arkadelphia, and gain 20 percent more beds. In Gurdon, Pineview had 60 beds, while in Arkadelphia it will be allowed 72.

Smith said if the city could get a license for a nursing home with 60 beds, it would have few problems finding someone to put one in.

He suggested those interested in the situation call Gov. Mike Huckabee, the state representatives, U.S. Senators and Congressmen.

Cliff Coleman, director of HUGGS, said the board of directors has formally approved the project. Local citizens will be hired to help operate the facility wherever possible.

Carolyn Skaggs, who will be the clinical director, said the employees can't give medication to the patients, but can remind them when to take it.

A nursing staff will be hired to help care for those at the center, and when a patient is ill and unable to get out of bed, the medication will be taken to their rooms.

In discussing renovations planned, Coleman said 10 rooms will be added, as will a dining room and a 1,500 square foot recreation room.

The 10 new rooms will have bathrooms, while the organization is working to see if it's feasible to add sinks or half-baths to the existing rooms.

At this time, Skaggs said, the facility it too crowded. "We don't want more than two in a room," she said. "We need more space, not beds."

She continued saying Pineview will be repainted to be warmer and prettier to help it feel like home to those there.

Pineview, she said, will be supplemented by Medicaid and Medicare, with some private pay accepted.

No psychotic mental patients will be accepted at the facility, but there could it could house some with depression and anxiety problems.

Coleman said there will be an interactive television system installed so the doctors in Hot Springs can visit their patients as needed. This will be done through a T-1 system, and be another service offered by HUGGS.

It was pointed out the salaries paid will be competitive and the employees will all have the same benefit package. Benefits, Skaggs said, are important.

One of the things that attracted HUGGS to Gurdon, she said, is the community support Pineview has and has always had.

Menz said he will get a closing checklist together, contact the city attorney about the statutes the facility will be working under and get the numbers together.

When this is done, a notice of public hearing will be advertised in the newspaper and hearing held. An ordinance will then have to be passed by the council.

He said the entire thing could be ready by the time the council meets in regular session next month.

In other business, the council heard the results of a traffic study done by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD).

Smith said the study was done in a 24-hour period on a Tuesday and Wednesday at Second and Main streets. The result is the AHTD plans to do nothing about the traffic hazard.

The department was presented with accident reports at the site over the past three years (with seven accidents having occurred and numerous almost accidents happening daily), business owners affected wrote letters describing the near misses they've seen, but it was all for naught.

Still, Smith said, the city will continue to try and get some kind of light or four-way stop signs at the intersection.

Stone Street is under construction following the completion of the Caney Bridge project. The street, Smith said, has been torn up, mailboxes relocated and culverts replaced.

The repair work will be done by the county under an agreement it had with the city, after Gurdon allowed trucks to use the street as a bypass around the primary school.

The city's personnel committee reviewed applications for the position of heavy equipment operator for the Street Department, rejecting all because none had all the qualifications specified in the job advertised.

One resident complained saying he had "heard" the department planned on moving a young employee up in the slot after he gets his commercial driver's license. If this happens, the man said, he will take action.

Smith said the opening with the department will be advertised once again, though the position will be a different one at lower pay. But, he said, those interested in applying can contact the city, especially those who applied this last time.

He said all council positions will be open for the November General Election, with all interested parties needing to pick up petitions at the City Recorder's office. All candidates will be seeking office as independents.

The city closed an energy grant, by spending the remains, some $1,490 to have insulation blown into the attic at city hall. Originally, the grant was for $29,604.

Gurdon, Smith said, has been selected to received a 4-Star Municipality Award from the Arkansas Municipal League. He said the award is based on loss prevention, and speaks well of the city employees.

Of the 488 cities in Arkansas, and 485 in the Mu