Maintaining The Meadows

HURON TWP. — A massive makeover continues at The Meadows at Osborn Park.At Erie County's public nursing home, workers recently submitted both a realistic rundown and a wish list of upgrades they seek inside the home, located off East Perkins Avenue, this year:Realistic rundown• Installing two new hot water tanks, collectively totaling $62,000• Sealing the parking lot's blacktop• Buying a new eight-person van, which would transport residents to medical appointments and activities• Swapping out 43 windows, installed when the home opened about 40 years ago, for new, energy-efficient substitutesWish list• Update the front entranceway and main office areas• Renovate the therapy room with new equipment• Place down new flooring in common areasThese planned and possible enhancements in 2017 piggyback off a major facelift occurring within The Meadows in recent years. Most notably, maintenance workers revamped all four residential living areas, with the last cluster completed in 2016. These areas feature fresh paint, lights, flooring, plumbing and circuitry.It's estimated these upgrades totaled somewhere around $500,000, paid for through nursing home funds.Money for nursing home improvements largely derives from a sales tax hike, in place from fall 2013 through fall 2014. Erie County commissioners, among other areas, temporarily raised the tax rate to generate funds specifically for rejuvenating The Meadows.At least two of the three commissioners, Pat Shenigo and Matt Old, re-emphasized their commitment to further upgrade this facility."We would like to see the progress continue here, and we know that is going to require some investment," Old said.Added Shenigo: "The nursing home industry today demands facilities that promote health and happiness so the residents can return home as soon as possible. What we are planning to build will allow our patients to receive the care they need and return them to their homes quicker."Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Employees at The Meadows at Osborn Park work at the nurses' station on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Huron Township. The station, located in one of four residential living areas, was completely renovated in 2016.A red light blinks, alerting The Meadows at Osborn Park nurses a resident needs medical attention. In 2016, maintenance workers replaced an outdated system, first installed when the home debuted in the mid-1970s, with functioning circuitry. A red light blinks as a resident calls for a nurse at The Meadows at Osborn Park in Huron on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017.Among the slated upgrades happening at The Meadows at Osborn Park this year: replacing this window and 42 others with energy-efficient substitutes.