Union Grove facility will be upgraded
By Patricia Bogumil
Staff Writer
Just a few days after proclaiming 2012 as the Year of the Veteran, Gov. Scott Walker visited the Wisconsin Veterans Home In Union Grove March 2, signing legislation to move forward a renovation that converts Gates Hall into a skilled nursing facility for area veterans.
State Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and state Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) co-authored the legislation.
Gates Hall is currently set up as an assisted living facility, able to serve 42 veterans. It has been closed since August 2011 due to lack of demand for assisted living care.
Plans are to convert Gates Hall into a 38-bed skilled nursing facility costing $4.9 million, 65 percent of which is federally funded.
The remaining cost will be covered by existing program revenue from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.
“This upgrade will help increase access to skilled nursing facilities for Wisconsin Veterans,” Walker said in prepared remarks.
“Beyond providing additional skilled nurses, this bill will also ensure the future fiscal stability of our home at Union Grove.
“I am glad the Legislature
delivered this proposal to my desk and would like to specifically thank Sen. Wanggaard and Rep. Vos for bringing this legislation forward and helping us meet the needs of more veterans.”
The conversion of Gates Hall will take one year to complete and eliminates a waiting list of veterans needing care.
The conversion is expected to generate $2 million in annual revenue for the Veterans Home at Union Grove, strengthening the solvency of the Veterans Trust Fund, noted Vos. The Fund provides a wide-range of services for veterans, including education, housing and transportation.
“Our veterans are a top priority,” said Wanggaard. “We put this legislation on the fast-track so renovations can begin as soon as possible to eliminate the waiting list for skilled nursing services.”
“This is a simple and common sense law that addresses the changing needs of our veterans,” added Vos.
“We owe a great deal to our servicemen and women. This new law is one way to show our gratitude.”
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