Bravera Bank: A Longtime Supporter of MCHC and the Surrounding Community
Stanley branch Market President Heath Hetzel says that Bravera focuses on giving back and supporting their communities. The hospital and nursing home are a huge part of not just Stanley, but all surrounding communities.
When Bravera sees a need across their footprint, they want to support and be a part of meeting that need. Youth and healthcare make up a large part of where they want to allocate their giving, as hospitals and schools are two of the largest employers within communities.
Our own Steph Everett, Administrator of Mountrail Bethel Home and CEO of MCMC shared:
“Bravera Bank has been a longtime supporter of the building projects at the Mountrail County Health Center over the years. We are thankful for their ongoing leadership and support in improving our community, and are so grateful for their generosity and what a blessing they are to the new Nursing Home project.”
MCHC Building Project Timeline
The first phase of construction for the MCHC project is our new 36-bed nursing home (including ten basic care rooms), the same number of beds as the current nursing home. This Nursing Home phase is expected to take roughly two years and, once completed, will come up to where the current north wing is located.
On the hospital side, renovations will start with a new entrance near the existing sunroom at Mountrail Bethel Home (MBH). There will be a gift shop and a new waiting room. Construction down the current south wing of the nursing home will include adding an out-patient infusion suite, a pharmacy suite, and an MRI suite.
In addition, purchasing will be moving from the basement to the upper level. The downstairs area will be renovated to accommodate a new specialty clinic that will allow us to bring in more specialists and include a minor procedure room. The ambulance bay by the emergency room will be extended to accommodate the larger sizes of newer ambulances.
As the final part of construction, we will also be adding seven new single apartments to Rosen Place. The assisted living facility currently has a waiting list of 31, showing the need for the new apartments. These apartments will be located along the rest of the current south wing of the nursing home.
Thank you, Bravera Bank, for your generous donation!
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in the courtyard at Mountrail Bethel Home on Wednesday, July 17 to mark the start of a four-year project on the Mountrail County Health Center’s campus.
The event featured comments from many involved in the project. MCHC CEO/Administrator Steph Everett highlighted the significance of the project as it creates a new home for the Mountrail Bethel Home residents. With 31 on the waiting list at Rosen place, the project will also add more units for the assisted living. Everett expressed gratitude to the Mountrail County Commissioners, saying they could not have started on the project yet without their support in pledging $25 million toward the $29 million cost of the nursing home phase of the project.
Dr. Mark Longmuir spoke about how long this project has been on the list of projects. He said he started as a CNA in 1997 and they were already discussing the need. The projects already completed include a new chapel at MBH, upgrades to the ER and the clinic expansion, but this project will update the remaining facilities. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who has donated to the various projects, saying he is looking forward to the final completion.
Mike Bratton of McGough Construction, the CMAR for the project, spoke about the project. As a Stanley High School graduate, he is excited to be part of this project and to work with the team at MCHC and EAPC, the architects for the project.
Ryan Gjellstad, president of the board, also expressed how it is nice to have not only McGough with their experience in the field, but also someone local as part of this project. He said that Stanley deserves this new, updated facility. The growth will be great for everyone. He expressed his appreciation to the former board members and board chairpersons, doctors, employees and county for all of the time put it to taking this project from planning to today.
Representative Don Longmuir spoke about how this project is a beautiful example of cooperation and a shining example of what can be done when entities work together. He also commended the tenacity of the various boards in never giving up on this goal.
Former board chairman Heath Hetzel said that the courtyard where the event was held was a special place, just outside the new chapel at Bethel Home. When the nursing home wing comes down, the chapel will be a focal point to the newly completed project. He asked that residents bear with them during the construction. He said that it was amazing to see the county partner with them in such a big way and he is excited to see the project begin. Lord willing, he said, the project will be complete in 42 months.
Pastor Erin Tormanen offered the invocation and blessing for the project, pointing towards scripture and the commandment to love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. The facility will be one of those ways as the doors will open and residents will receive the care and assistance they need including the emotional and spiritual care and help. He encouraged everyone to never lose sight of the rare and beautiful treasure of souls that will fill the rooms in the new nursing home.
The residents at Mountrail Bethel Home were given the shovels for the ceremonial groundbreaking. Lunch was served in the Rosen Place parking lot with Bravera Bank on hand to do the cooking.
Construction will get underway this week with the demolition of the former Centennial Court. The first phase of the construction will follow on that site with a new 36 bed nursing home, including ten basic care rooms, the same number of beds as the current nursing home. This Nursing Home phase is expected to take roughly two years and once completed will come up to where the current north wing is located.
On the hospital side, renovations will start with a new entrance near the existing sunroom at Mountrail Bethel Home (MBH). There will be a gift shop and a new waiting room. Construction down the current south wing of the nursing home will include adding an out-patient infusion suite, pharmacy suite and an MRI suite.
Purchasing will be moving from the basement to the upper level. The downstairs area will be renovated to accommodate a new specialty clinic that will allow the facility to bring in more specialists. It will also include a minor procedure room.
The ambulance bay by the emergency room will be extended to accommodate the larger sizes of the newer ambulances.
They will also be adding seven new apartments to Rosen Place. The assisted living facility currently has a waiting list of 31, showing the need for the new apartments. These will all be single apartments based on the footprint space available. These apartments will be located along the rest of the current south wing of the nursing home. The Rosen Place addition is the final part of construction.
The entire project cost is estimated at $47 million, with $29 million of that for the new nursing home. The Mountrail County Commissioners have stepped up and have pledged $25 million over two years for the nursing home portion of the project. A grant for $15 million is guaranteed and an additional $10 million is pending the outcome of the property tax elimination bill.
MCHC has set a goal to fundraise an additional $15 million dollars for this project. Everett says they have additional funding sources set aside for the project. That includes funds available from Mountrail Bethel Home, Mountrail County Medical Center, Rosen Place, Mountrail County Health Foundation, kitchen funds set aside in a donation, and 340B money. They will also continue to look at grant opportunities along with the fundraising campaign. The Foundation continues to accept donations from the public including the ability to donate on their website: www.mountrailcountyhealthfoundation.org/how-you-canhelp.
With work slated to begin on the new MCMC project this summer, a farewell to Centennial Court was held on Wednesday, May 29. The public was invited to the event that included a short program and a time to share memories of Centennial Court.
Pastor Erin Tormanen opened the program by quoting Psalm 71:9, which reads “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone,” (New International Version). He said that people are often troubled by the past, present, and future, perplexed by the challenges, but that can be alleviated by placing faith in God’s faithfulness and covenants.
As you look across cultures, all too often those can feel cast off. In his five years in Stanley, he said, he has had the opportunity to share both at the chapel at Bethel Home and Centennial Court and is thankful and give praise for this place that does not cast off, but rather provides a place to come and have a rich life. He also pointed out, it was not the building, but rather the residents and staff that provided the legacy. As the work at Centennial Court comes to an end, God is not done but rather following his plan and what replaces Centennial Court will build a new legacy. Indeed, he said, it is time to yield to the changes, glorify what is to come and rejoice in what has been, as he offered a prayer of blessing.
Ardis Loock, who was the director at Centennial Court for 21 years, shared her memories of what a wonderful place this was to work. While she shared that she hates to see it go, she knows that what will come will be just as nice.
MBH Activities Director Chuck Repnow shared his thankfulness for the location and opportunities it has given for the residents over the years, saying that the community has shown its desire to take care of its loved ones here, providing a quality of life and more. He praised the foresight to provide the connection between assisted living, the nursing home, hospital and aquatic center.
MBH Social Worker Kelly Wilhelmi spoke about the use of the building during COVID, to provide a unit with the staff to take care of them allowing them to stay at home. She said they were able to have their own employees provide care during the worst possible times while also allowing families to be able to visit their loved ones, often times through the windows, but also in the comfort of their own community.
Melissa Peterson, who has worked at Centennial Court since its opening, says that the importance of the facility was the people she got to meet, who she says enriched her life even more than she gave them.
Others attending shared memories of the gathering space, which was used for birthdays, family gatherings and more. Those memories will always be there as the facility moves forward with the new construction.
It has been more than a year since the Mountrail County Health Foundation began the Partnering for the Future Campaign to add new services to the hospital, expand residences at Rosen Place and build a brand new, state-of-the-art nursing home facility. The first phase of the construction will be a new 36 bed nursing home, which will start with the demolition of Centennial Court in July. Once that phase is complete work can begin to remove the old nursing home and begin hospital renovations and finally the addition of new apartments to Rosen Place.
