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Access to healthcare post-HSHS Hospitals/Prevea Clinic closures is a significant concern. Prevea provides much of the county’s physical and occupational therapy & early childhood care. HSHS provides most of the local inpatient beds for patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The closing of the Libertas Center means detoxification and substance abuse treatment services will no longer be available in our area, and patients may have to travel hours to get help. Access to emergency care, routine outpatient care, and meds are all going to be affected. As Supervisor, I would support the Dept. of Health & Human Svcs with additional funding and resources, and seek out creative solutions and partnerships to fill the gaps in care until normal services can resume under new ownership.
A significant problem for Dunn County is the current lack of adequate and affordable housing. There are more homeless than available beds, and a dearth of affordable housing for lower income families and individuals who are making money, just not enough to save for a down payment. Also, as our population ages, older individuals are finding it difficult to maintain the homes they’re living in, but don’t have the resources to move. As Supervisor, I would change zoning rules to allow residents to build accessory dwelling units on their property, which could provide homes for family members, or for caretakers for elderly homeowners looking to age in place. I would also improve return-to-work initiatives for low- or no-income residents looking to get back on their feet.
Many Dunn County residents, particularly in rural areas, get water from private wells. Most of those wells aren’t regularly tested. This winter’s disturbing lack of snow indicates a lower water table this year. As water levels decrease, the concentration of pollutants increase. The County tested a number of wells in 2023, and several districts reported nitrate levels exceeding what the EPA considers safe. More testing is needed this year, and while the County does have funds left over from last year, I feel that more is needed to determine whether last year’s borderline wells have become unsafe. As Supervisor, I would look to add resources to the Environmental Services Dept. to continue testing, and I would seek to make more home tests available to residents who were not part of the study.
My two top priorities are ensuring Dunn County residents have access to needed healthcare until local services can resume in facilities affected by recent closings, and looking for efficiencies to help offset necessary cost increases for Health & Human Services and Environmental Services to provide for the health and safety of residents. Potential efficiencies to be considered include adopting a 9/80 work schedule, reducing funding for, or eliminating unnecessary or underutilized programs, and seeking alternative sources of funding (grants/partnerships/etc.) for other programs whenever possible.
