Meadows undergoing million-dollar makeover

HURON TWP. — The Meadows at Osborn Park is ready for its million-dollar makeover.About a month ago, construction activities began inside the Erie County-owned nursing home to spruce up several common areas and office spaces — many of which have gone largely untouched since the facility debuted in 1976.Construction recently started to give a facelift throughout the outside area leading into The Meadows at Osborn Park in Huron Township. It's one of several tasks in an ongoing $1.1 million project, which should be completed in spring 2020.This represents the final step in a multi-year top-to-bottom building renovation, located within Osborn MetroPark's complex. The facility can house 130 patients.Among the tasks undertaken by construction crews, all set for a spring 2020 completion date:• Redo the front lobby area, consisting of a wider entrance, with covering, to create a more "grandiose" feel for guests and residents upon entering• Build new offices, conference rooms and public bathrooms• Construct a new chapel, salon, physical therapy room and library with computers and internet access• Purchase new furniture for common areas along with a new greenhouseAll stakeholders, from commissioners to nursing home staff, and especially residents living at the Meadows, eagerly anticipate what's to come."The renovations will offer our current residents improved amenities," Meadows administrator Diane Corrao said. "These improvements will also make us a more desirable choice for individuals in need of inpatient rehab or short-term-skilled nursing services."Construction workers recently started a project to completely gut and modernize the front lobby inside The Meadows at Osborn Park in Huron Township. It's one of several tasks in an ongoing $1.1 million project, which should be completed in spring 2020.Paying for the workAbout $1.1 million coming from a countywide sales tax increase, which took effect between October 2013 and September 2014, fully funded these upgrades. It's a prevailing reason why county commissioner Pat Shenigo supported the temporary tax hike."This final phase of our updates will bring our 'front door' up to first-class standards," Shenigo said. "These series of remodeling projects we have done allows for the Meadows to remain one of our areas finest facilities for nursing and short-term rehab."So why wasn't the money expended sooner? And why didn't the job start about five years ago, when the tax hike ended?Former commissioners Bill Monaghan and Tom Ferrell, both of whom supported this very tax hike, effectively froze out Shenigo and reneged on their promise to fund long-awaited enhancements at the Meadows. They balked at the bid process, instead prioritizing and directing other dollars from this hike toward furniture for various departments located within the Erie County Office Building.So, when Matt Old took office, replacing Ferrell, he wanted to make amends. After Monaghan left in December 2018, he worked with Shenigo and fellow incumbent Steve Shoffner to locate enough money from this tax increase. They then earmarked those dollars to cover all costs associated with these repairs."This is what we promised taxpayers, and it wasn't until I got in that we were able to use the rest of the money intended for these purposes," Old said. "It is important that we continue to make improvements for our residents. The Meadows needs to be a modern and viable choice for our community. We need to finish the job that was started several years ago."The Meadows at Osborn Park in Huron Township.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.