Ackley residents: Don't move nursing home

April 16--ACKLEY -- Residents shared sharp criticisms and leveled harsh charges Wednesday night against board members and administrators running Grand JiVante, a long-term care facility.

Participants in the town hall were particularly vocal on plans to "move" the nursing home's license to Iowa Falls after construction on a proposed $16 million building is complete. According to Grand JiVante's website, officials will break ground in May, and the new facility will open in 2016.

About 300 people attended the meeting in the sanctuary of St. John's United Church of Christ.

Despite assurances Grand JiVante will remain open in Ackley -- including some relayed Wednesday night by Ackley Mayor Jim Daggs -- residents are skeptical.

"First and foremost, 'We're not closing,'" Daggs said.

The comment prompted laughter in the pews.

"You take the licensed beds out of here, and there won't be a facility," one woman said when a cordless microphone reached her.

Daggs later offered for city officials to mediate the dispute between residents and the nursing home.

Judy Wiarda said her 95-year-old mother, Lil Voy, lives at Grand JiVante. Wiarda has no qualms with the nursing home staff.

"I think she gets great care there," Wiarda said.

And at first, the building project seemed like a good idea.

"I said, 'That's all right. Let them build.' But keep our facility in Ackley," Wiarda said.

"It went from an expansion project to replacement. That's when I got mad."

As evidence, participants at Wednesday's meeting referred to a letter written by Julie Hinders, CEO of Grand JiVante, to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

"The replacement project would remain in Hardin County but will be approximately 12 miles west in Iowa Falls," Hinders wrote. "We would not be adding additional bed capacity and would request our current 70-bed licensure to remain intact at the replacement facility."

"We believe this replacement and modernization project is critical to our future," Hinders added.

Hinders' letter is dated March 24.

Many still refer to the care facility, which opened in 1936, by its former name, Presbyterian Village. And based on comments at the meeting, community members hold the nursing home's heritage and significance for the town in high regard.

Nick Graham, one of the event's organizers, noted the Rath family, owners of the former Rath Packing Co. in Waterloo, donated the original money to establish Presbyterian Village. Since then, Graham said, residents over the years poured millions of dollars in donations into the facility.

"This can be viable here, and it has been since Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president," Graham added.

Though invited, no board members and no representatives of Grand JiVante's administration attended the meeting.

"And that's been the problem for a year," the Rev. David Boogerd said. " ... They have refused to take part in any kind of town hall meeting."

Board members include:

* Christine Timmons, former menu development manager for Martin Brothers Distributing, now retired.

* Bruce Bassler, an associate professor of architecture at Iowa State University.

* Janet DeBerg, market manager for Green Belt Bank and Trust in Ackley.

* Jane Stoutland.

Board member Barry Hofmeister of Ackley apparently resigned this week.

Bassler, DeBerg and Hofmeister did not respond to requests for comment. Stoutland ahead of the meeting declined to comment on the situation.

"No. I'm not interested in talking about it. We've put out plenty of material," she said.

Stoutland did acknowledge many in the community are upset with the nursing home and project but said she would not attend Wednesday night's meeting -- "Absolutely not."

Before hanging up, Stoutland concluded her comments by saying she did not want to be quoted in the newspaper.

"Then you will be hearing from the attorney," Stoutland added.

Doug Miller, marketing manager and spokesman for Grand JiVante, said any relevant information about the project and nursing home is available in the organization's press releases. He said no representatives would attend the meeting.

"There are no additional things that we could possibly add by being there," Miller said.

He added a response would follow from the organization's attorney.

Grand JiVante is a private, nonprofit entity and answers only to its board members, according to Nick Graham, one of the event organizers. He said his goal is for the community to regain control of its nursing home.

"That's all we want. Then we can have an election and elect a board of directors," Graham said.

Grand JiVante officials suggest after "moving" their license and beds to Iowa Falls, they will reapply with the state for a smaller facility in Ackley. Graham, though, predicts success is "close to zero."

He researched the question personally. According to Graham, there are 399 licensed beds at six facilities in Hardin County. One week ago, 117 were empty.

Beyond that, Graham said he also called facilities in Butler, Franklin and Grundy counties.

"None are full," Graham said.

Grand JiVante would have to prove a need for additional beds -- an unlikely prospect, Graham said.

"If we lose those beds here in Ackley, they will probably never return."

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