The Waupaca County Board voted 14-10 Tuesday to remodel Lakeview Manor.
The remodeling project will downsize the county facility and provide two 10-bed units for assisted living.
It will cost an estimated $645,000 to remodel Lakeview Manor to create the two new units, according to the facility’s 2013 annual report.
Tuesday’s resolution also includes a provision which allows Lakeview Manor to sell some of the adjoining county-owned land to help pay for the project. The sale of property is estimated to bring the total construction cost down from $1.3 million to $1 million.
Located in Weyauwega, Lakeview Manor currently provides care for 38 patients.
Initially, the resolution had been on the county board’s Oct. 29 agenda. At that meeting, however, the resolution was tabled for 90 days.
At the Nov. 12 meeting, Supervisor Pat Craig asked the board to suspend the rules and take the resolution back off the table.
“I’d like us to discuss this so that Lakeview is not left in limbo,” Craig said.
Craig described how over the course of its 111-year history, the facility has evolved to reflect changes in state law, as well as changes in cultural perceptions about mental illness.
She said the proposed remodeling project would help Lakeview Manor continue its legacy of serving people in Waupaca County.
The board voted 21-4 to suspend the rules, then voted 19-5 to take the resolution from the table.
“We don’t have enough information,” Supervisor Gerald Murphy said. “I would like more information before I cast a vote.”
Supervisor Don Morgan said he did not support selling the land around Lakeview Manor. He said the city of Weyauwega would prefer to see an industrial park developed on that land.
Supervisor Jack Penney described Lakeview Manor as the most important issue facing Waupaca County.
“These are real people,” Penney said. “Many of them require 24/7 care. Other rest homes in our county can’t take care of them.”
The board then voted 14-10 to adopt the resolution approving the remodeling project.
Voting in favor of the project were DuWayne Federwitz, Lloyd Mares, Terry Murphy, Don Aasen, Donald Peterson, Gene Sorensen, Jack Penney, Dave Johnson, Pat Craig, Bill Jonely, Bob Flease, Fred Zaug, Jim Loughrin and Gary Barrington.
Voting against the project were Dennis Kussmann, Darrel Handrich, Lee Much, Joyce Boyer, Mary Kay Poehlman, Joe McClone, Gerald Murphy, Bob Ellis, Don Morgan and Dona Gabert.
County Chairman Dick Koeppen abstained from voting because his Clintonville ambulance service does business with Lakeview Manor.