New skilled-nursing facility for veterans to cost $80 million
Gov. Tony Evers broke ground on a new facility at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King on Tuesday, May 14.
State Rep. Kevin Petersen joined Evers at the ceremony.
Petersen authored the legislative bill on Jan. 21, 2013, that added construction of the John R. Moses Skilled Nursing Facility in King to the state’s building program.
Assembly Bill 733 passed out of the Assembly on March 20, 2014, on a bipartisan vote, and unanimously out of the Senate on April 1, 2014.
On April 4, 2014, the bill became law.
“Six years later, I was honored to pick up a ceremonial shovel for the John R. Moses Hall groundbreaking,” Petersen said.
The new state-of-the-art, 192-bed skilled nursing facility represents an $80 million investment.
The cost is split with the federal government paying for 65% of the project and the state paying 35%. Construction is expected to last two years.
In addition to skilled nursing care, King offers medical services such as dental, mental health services, social services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy and more.
The Moses Hall project is part of an overall investment in the campus of $104 million.
The investment includes improvements at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at King, which opened in 1888.
Additional projects include a retaining wall replacement on Rainbow Lake, water system improvements, electrical and other safety upgrades, and an overhaul of food service.
The Wisconsin Veterans Home at King is located on Rainbow Lake one mile southwest of the city of Waupaca and spans 42 acres.
The facility was founded in 1887 by the Grand Army of the Republic, a Civil War Veterans Organization.
“King has been a beautiful and important place for generations of veterans to live following their service to our nation,” Evers said. “I’m proud to be investing in King’s future. We are looking forward to serving Wisconsin’s veterans and their family members for years to come in this modern facility on this incredible campus.”
Every named hall at King honors a veteran with Wisconsin ties.
Appointed by Gov. Gaylord Nelson, World War II veteran John R. Moses served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs from 1962 until he retired in 1982.
During his tenure, Secretary Moses led the revitalization of King.
“Generation after generation of veterans risked their lives, giving all of us the opportunity to live our lives as we choose,” Petersen said. “Moses Hall will continue King’s exceptional tradition of ensuring our heroes live their final years protected in comfort and dignity.”