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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, February 8, 2016 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 2 of 5 <br /> <br />10. #16-3802 TCO DESIGN, 2380 SHADYWOOD ROAD – REZONING AND <br />CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (continued) <br /> <br />Any deliveries would be made to the back of the building during the day. The window in the rear would <br />be removed to eliminate the drive-through service. <br /> <br />Roman Bloemke, Chief Operations Manager for Welcome Home Management Company, stated the <br />company is based out of Hutchinson, Minnesota, and employ approximately 400 employees. Welcome <br />Home manages 11 other properties through Minnesota and two in Wisconsin. The intent for this property <br />is more memory care, which will work well in a small environment like this. The smaller facility allows <br />for it to have more of a family-oriented feel to it. <br /> <br />McMillan asked what attracted them to this site and this community. <br /> <br />Bloemke stated this particular location is nice given its visibility and the size of the building. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she did look at the Welcome Home website and that their other facilities appear to be <br />more home-based. McMillan stated this building reminds her more of an acute care facility rather than a <br />family-oriented assisted living center. McMillan stated she is having a hard time visualizing this to be <br />more of a group or family-oriented type of facility. <br /> <br />Bloemke stated there are a number of options they can incorporate into the remodeling and that this use <br />would complement the community. Bloemke stated what is inside the building is what matters, such as <br />the employees and the amenities. The building is also fairly new and should not have any structural <br />problems. <br /> <br />McMillan noted there will not be a lot of common space outside of the patient’s individual room. <br /> <br />Bloemke stated they would utilize the main area for more than just dining and that they would also use it <br />for social gatherings and group activities. There are also some spa areas that the patients can use. <br />Bloemke stated the circle design enables them to work better with the patients as well, with some natural <br />light coming in from the front. <br /> <br />Levang noted at the Planning Commission meeting it was said that one-third will be a swing bed/rehab <br />and two-thirds would be memory care. <br /> <br />Bloemke stated the mix will vary greatly depending on the type of people that come in and will fluctuate <br />over time. Bloemke stated they are seeing an increase in people with memory loss and that will likely be <br />the majority of their patients. <br /> <br />Levang noted rehab and memory care are two very different services with different regulations and staff <br />requirements. Levang asked how they are planning to manage that. <br /> <br />Bloemke stated Welcome Home would run the home health agency that would be running the facility and <br />would hold the license. A third party would be contracted to perform the rehab work and provide the <br />necessary staff. Bloemke stated Welcome Home would deal with the home health portion of the care, <br />such as staff and medications, but the family would hire any physical therapists. Bloemke stated there <br />would be an agreement with that company to provide those specific services.