Town, groups study acquisition of nursing home

Local groups are analyzing whether or not they can economically use the shuttered Columbia View Care Center.

Eagle Health Care, Inc., closed the care center this summer, citing economic reasons.

This fall, the building's owner offered the facility to the Town of Cathlamet for the price of $1, and now local groups are studying to see whether or not they can use the facility.

Mayor George Wehrfritz said Friday he hadn't planned to have public discussion of the process, but word leaked out.

He has formed two groups to investigate the feasibility of local ownership. One group, which includes local care center staff members and others with business or professional backgrounds, is looking at possible uses of the building.

The second group is investigating the cost of refurbishing and operating the building for the long term.

"No decision to accept the offer has been made, what so ever," Wehrfritz said at a special meeting of the town council on Friday. "We encourage them to do everything they can to find a private industry buyer."

Wehrfritz added that he and others don't want to see the building remain idle and become a blight on the community.

"It was not my intention that this be done in the public sector at all," Wehrfritz said. "These groups are advisory groups. I wanted to come to the council later on with an analysis. We have to make our decision based on cold, hard numbers."

Councilmember Steven McNicholas supported the process.

"We need an anchor tenant with a long-term lease to cover costs," he said. "We've got to bring business to this thing. I think we need to move ahead."

Councilmember Dick Swart urged caution. The town has a tremendous debt load with the new waste water treatment plant, and another big project would place burdens on staff and resources.

"We should have a pretty clear vision in mind before acquiring the building," he said.

One possible partner or tenant is Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services.

In an analysis of the department, former Interim Director Sherrie McDonald recommended the department consolidate its two offices. One is in the courthouse annex, and the other is on the Elochoman Valley Road.

New Director Sue Cameron on Tuesday said she and department staff have been considering that recommendation. It would save travel time and improve communication if the departments were in one place, she said. They were invited to tour the Columbia View building, and they concluded it's big enough to house all Health and Human Services Department offices.

"For a work site, it would be really appropriate for us," she said.

"We would never need a facility that big," commented financial officer Chris Weiler. "We would need co-tenants. There would be a lot of improvements that would be needed. We have to look at the economics, but we also have space issues."

At this point, Weiler added, it appears that the department will either have to continue the two-campus status quo or consider consolidating all offices at the Elochoman Valley campus.

Commission Chair Dan Cothren supported consideration of all possibilities, especially if they would reduce the number of buildings which the county would need to maintain.

"The county has a lot of buildings, and that's a big burden," he said. "It would be nice to have some of them on the public tax rolls."

"There's a full economic piece that has to be considered," said Commissioner Blair Brady.

"We'll keep you updated as we do the research," Cameron said.