Commissioners quash rumors about selling Putnam Acres

OTTAWA — The Putnam County commissioners admitted they had received an offer from Trilogy to purchase Putnam Acres, but said “they were not selling” the facility.

The commissioners and Putnam Acres Administrator Abel Quintero made the announcement during a staff in-service meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Putnam County Commissioner John Love told the employees they had been approached by Trilogy officials about possibly buying the facility shortly after the last administrator, Jessica Trinko, had left to take another position.

“This is no secret,” Love said. “We have to listen to offers.”

He said the commissioners take a lot of things into consideration about the county-owned nursing home.

“This facility has never had competition like they do now,” he said.

He also said the facility's cash balance, once more than $2 million, is now less than $1 million.

“We said no to their offer, though,” Love said.

He said the county nursing home has a very good reputation.

“Families love you folks,” he told the employees.

He also said people felt the service was good.

“No way would I support selling this facility,” Commissioner Travis Jerwers said.

Quintero said he was told when he began he would hear rumors about the facility selling.

“I think the first wave of rumors came after we closed down the child care facility last year,” he said.

Trilogy owns The Meadows of Ottawa-Glandorf, The Meadows of Leipsic, and The Meadows of Kalida in Putnam County.

Quintero said facilities with newer buildings and Medicare and Medicaid cuts were two areas that were affecting the facility's census numbers. Putnam Acres has 57 patients. It has 72 beds. The administrator said service and programs were how Putnam Acres could compete.

“What you say to the residents and in the community is important,” Commissioner Vince Schroeder said. “You have to talk positive about this place to your families and friends.”

Billing clerk Tina Weber said it was important people know Putnam Acres is self-sustaining.

“We don't use any taxpayer money to operate this facility,” she said.

The commissioners affirmed this statement by telling employees no money from the county's general fund is used to operate Putnam Acres.

Quintero said Putnam Acres pays about $90,000 to the county each year as payment for administrative services provided by the county.

“I really believe keeping this as a county nursing home is important,” Quintero said. “The less choices we have in the county means a facility can set standard prices without competition.”