MERRILL, Wis. (WSAW) – After much discussion, the board has voted to not accept the referendum motion, so it will not go to a vote.
For over a year, the city and residents of Merrill have been working on a solution for the Pine Crest nursing home.
During Tuesday’s meeting, many supporters spoke out against the proposed $5 million referendum, saying the numbers proposed by the panel were not valid.
“The $440,000 Lincoln County is paying to support Pine Crest is very affordable long-term care insurance for Lincoln County taxpayers,” said Eileen Guthrie of People for Pine Crest.
People for Pine Crest called the panel’s proposal a “poison pill” and said it was doomed to failure.
“It’s being made clear that they can’t do everything that needs to be done in Pine Crest in the next five years. Some things are still working. It’s not going to break for another seven, eight or nine years,” said Michael Southcomb of People for Pine Crest.
The group is now looking for a solution to the proposed referendum.
“We’re looking for a real solution. A real referendum that covers the capital costs, because that’s what they’re trying to do, or what they’ve said they’re trying to do,” Southcomb said.
Pine Crest has been a county-owned facility for 70 years. Pine Crest members want to keep it that way while finding long-term funding to operate the nursing home.
“We continue to support Pine Crest as a community benefit to its residents, its employees and its taxpayers,” Guthrie said.
Board members put forward two different tax levy proposals that were less than the original $5 million. Both proposals failed, so there will be no referendum on Pine Crest on the November ballot.
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