News

Citing ‘operational concern,’ new owner raises rates at SE Assisted Living

Residents and their families will see a jump in rates this month at Sleepy Eye Assisted Living, with the price of rooms rising as much as 60 percent under the new owner of the facility, Monarch Healthcare Management.Monarch CEO Marc Halpert said the increases follow a six-month review of services, care and care packages after the company bought the assisted living community for seniors from the previous owner, Volunteers of America National Services, a nonprofit affordable housing developer and senior healthcare provider with operations nationwide.Monarch’s review found the assisted living facility “was quite below cost, causing major operational concern,” Halpert said in a statement that he gave last week to the Herald-Dispatch.

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Council acts on preliminary budget, large flagpole, snow plow, dock

The City Council on Tuesday approved a preliminary budget for 2025 that includes a 9.17 percent raise in local property taxes and levies, an increase of $155,443.Councilors cited the impact of inflation on the city’s bottom line and noted their action Tuesday still allows them to reduce that proposed tax increase when they approve a final budget in December, if current budget numbers trend better in the coming months.

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BUILDER SUPREME

The first time Andrew Grawien laid his hands on a concertina made by Sleepy Eye’s Josh Sellner, it was like a revelation.The feathery, easy action of the buttons.

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