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Assisted Living Center on Track for Year-End OpeningJanuary 30, 2004 Eads Chamber of Commerce members heard Monday from County Commissioners Rod Brown and Vern Harris that construction on an assisted living center south of Eads may start in 90 days, with completion about seven months later. Brown said that a site survey has been completed on the property, located adjacent to the southern border of the town of Eads at the end of Maine Street. The land was formerly owned by members of the Jackson family and was purchased last year by the Kiowa County Economic Development Foundation (KCEDF), private, non-profit corporation. Two four-inch water lines have been run to the site, and members of the county’s Road and Bridge crew have cleaned and performed preliminary leveling of the site. Kiowa County expects to fund the 20-unit project through revenue bonds, with details of financing to be completed in the near future. The county had originally considered guaranteed bank loans; however the revenue bonds are expected to save interest costs over the 20 year finance period. While the project planning has included only funds derived from financing, KCEDF Executive Direct Janet Frederick stated that five to six grant sources are potentially available and, if received, the grant funds would help defray the construction costs and shorten the amount of time it would take for the facility to reach profitability. Without grant funds, conservative estimates state that it would take 2.5 years for the facility to reach a financial break-even point. Sixteen to 17 of the 20 rooms need to be occupied to break even. Frederick said that, in terms of cost to residents, the facility is in the mid-range for similar centers in the area, but with better amenities, such as an exercise pool and conference rooms. A well-attended community meeting last fall, area residents demonstrated exceptionally strong support for the project, and several people present at that time asked to be placed on a "waiting list" to move to the center. Anyone interested in being placed on such a list can call the Kiowa County Commissioners’ office at 719-438-5810 for more information.
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In order to further keep expenses to a minimum, existing county staff will provide services such as payroll, however the facility will add six to seven new jobs to the area. In other businesses, incoming Chamber President Dennis Pearson announced executive officers for 2004. Mike Lening will serve as Vice President, while Marilyn Baxter will serve as Treasurer and Cathy Davis serves as Secretary. Pearson announced that renovations on the Nipps-Bransgrove building are nearing completion and the building should be ready to occupy by March. In addition to a day care center, the lower level of the building will also house the Department of Social Services, which is currently located in the basement of the Kiowa County Courthouse. A target of May 1 has been established to begin operations of the day care center. Frederick announced that extensive renovation work by the Merchant family at the Country Manor Motel is nearly complete, and the motel will become an EconoLodge in a month or two. Van Brown, Director of Public Works for the Town of Eads said the water project is within two or three months of being complete. Asphalt patching has been halted since the batch plants are closed for the winter.
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