Administrator steps down

McCOOK, Neb. — The search will begin for a new administrator at Hillcrest Nursing Home, with the resignation Tuesday of Colinda Nappa.

During a closed session at the regular Hillcrest Board of Trustees meeting, Nappa, current administrator, tendered her resignation effective by the end of the day, said Randy Dean, board president. Dean made the announcement after the board reconvened as an open meeting.

At the regular meeting Tuesday, the board first heard presentations by auditor Steve Placke of Shonsey and Associates of Grand Island, on the annual financial audit and Ken Klaasmeyer, of Klaasmeyer & Associates of Omaha, hired by Red Willow County Commissioners for a facility assessment of the nursing home. Hillcrest is owned by the county but is supposed to operate by its own revenue.

After the presentations, the board, along with Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood and County Commissioner Jacque Riener, met for nearly an hour in closed session, before Nappa was asked to join them.

Once in open session, on a motion made by board member Mike Eklund and seconded by Jim Howard, the board unanimously approved accepting Nappa’s resignation. Board trustee Ann Barger was not at Tuesday’s meeting.

Don Harpst, a former Hillcrest administrator, was attending the meeting and agreed to be interim director. This was approved unanimously by the board after a motion made by Jim Howard and seconded by Mike Skolout.

Harpst, 83, still regularly attends board of trustees meetings and stays involved with the facility and with the Hillcrest Foundation. On Tuesday, dressed in a worn sweatshirt and chinos, Harpst had been weeding the multiple flower gardens at the facility and seemed slightly startled when asked by Dean if he would be willing to serve as interim director. Still, after a brief pause, he agreed to serve in the transitional role.

He talked briefly about working as a team and “gaining back public support... and for staff to feel good working here.”

“I want consistency, and help from everybody,” Harpst said. He noted that although it’s been 19 years since he was an administrator, he believes a “non-punishing” atmosphere and that staff must feel they are respected and heard, for the facility to move forward.

Dean added that it’s vital that all issues “have to be transparent.”

Nappa was hired by the county commissioners in 2012.

After the vote on Harpst, Eklund voiced the need to meet sooner rather than later to address concerns facing the nursing home, namely, the search for an administrator and financial matters. The board agreed and will have a special meeting Wednesday, July 5, at Hillcrest.

In other business, at Tuesday’s meeting:

* the board voted unanimously to pay bills as presented. Renee Wright, business manager, told the board that about $200,000 is currently owed to the facility and that projected expenses outweigh revenue by about $72,000.

* Randy Dean thanked department heads and staff for work they did to get all the information needed onto one software program, American Health Tech. Previously, two software companies were used, making financial statements unreliable.

* Assisted Living may possibly gain up to two more residents in the near future, boosting the total to seven, said Sidney Bauman, department head. Total capacity is 10.

* Maggie Repass has taken another position and is no longer the Hillcrest Foundation director. Tamera Neel, activities director, told the board that the public is invited to a firework display Thursday night at Hillcrest. She’s also looking for volunteers for the foundation’s ‘Night on the Hill.” The fundraising helps the Foundation fund scholarships for employees and memorials.