The Wheeler City Council has unanimously endorsed the proposed bond measure that will allow the Nehalem Bay Health District to construct a new state-of-the-art Health Center and Pharmacy and renovate and modernize the region’s only skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility.
The city council’s action came during its March 21, 2023 meeting. City council’s in Nehalem and Manzanita are expected to consider resolutions supporting the projects during their April meetings.
In a letter to the Health District, Wheeler Mayor Doug Honeycutt noted the unanimous support for the resolution and said, “We are looking forward to a great project like this, which supports our communities, to be constructed in Wheeler. Personally, I believe that for a community to survive and grow, access to healthcare and education are prerequisites.”
Health District board president Marc C. Johnson said support from the city of Wheeler was extremely gratifying and on behalf of the District board expressed thanks for the cooperation and collaboration by the city.
The $10.25 million bond measure will be on the May 16, 2023 ballot. If approved, the bond measure will help fund construction of a new Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy on Highway 101 in downtown Wheeler. The new facility will double the size of the existing health center and create space to bring a variety of not currently available specialty care services to the community. The new facility will include, for example, a dental suite and a much expanded pharmacy.
The bond measure will also fund extensive renovation and modernization of the Nehalem Valley Care Center, the only skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility between Astoria and Newport on the Oregon coast. The renovations include remodeling all patient rooms, updates to the facility dining room and kitchen and enhancements to provide a safer and more inviting environment for patients and staff.
The Health District also plans to use bond proceeds to prepare the site now occupied by the old Wheeler Hospital for work force housing focused on the needs of health care and other essential workers.
Support for the bond measure and health and senior care improvements continues to grow with more than 150 endorsers in the community. Oregon senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have already secured $3 million in federal funding to support the Health Center and Pharmacy construction. That appropriation is expected to be available later this year.
The effort to pass the bond measure to enhance local health and senior care is being spearheaded by a local volunteer committee – Yes For Local Health Care.
The committee’s website is: https://www.nehalemhealthcare.com