Lincoln County Board To Draft Formal Response Plan In The Event Pine Crest Sale Fails To Close

With the sale of Pine Crest Nursing Home on the table, Lincoln County officials are also preparing for what happens if the deal doesn’t go through—including the possibility of closing the facility.

The County Board earlier approved a purchase agreement with Merrill Health Holdings LLC and Jack Pines Healthcare LLC to take over the Merrill-based nursing home. That sale is expected to close by August 1. During last night’s board meeting, supervisors voted 16 to 5 in favor of a backup plan. The approved resolution directs the Administrative and Legislative Committee to draft a detailed proposal that includes a timeline outlining how a closure of Pine Crest would be carried out, if needed. That plan is to be presented next month.

Supervisors made it clear that a vote to plan for closure does not automatically trigger it. Other options could still be explored, including finding another buyer, launching a referendum, or identifying new revenue sources. Any of those alternatives would also require board approval. Public comment was offered prior to the vote, with four speakers addressing the board including members of People for Pine Crest, a citizen group that continues to advocate for keeping the facility under county ownership.