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 Give Big Valleys fundraiser comes to Dunn and Pepin counties

Nonprofit organizations in Dunn and Pepin counties have been added to a major fundraising effort by the United Way of the St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys: Give Big Valleys, which takes place Tuesday, April 29.
 
Steve McCarthy, Executive Director of the United Way of the St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, said Give Big Valleys is a 24-hour intensive fundraising effort that his organization sponsors and gives all 501(c)(3) organizations the tools needed to connect with donors during that period.
 
In July 2024, United Way St. Croix Valley merged with the Dunn County United Way to form United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, encompassing the counties of Burnett, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix. McCarthy said the United Way has sponsored a one-day fundraising event for about a decade, but it was rebranded as Give Big Valleys this year after Dunn and Pepin counties joined the organization.
 
“United Way provides the platform, marketing tools and exposure for the nonprofit organization to run their own fundraising campaigns,” said Sarah Weiske, United Way Director of Development. “We try to make it easy for the nonprofits to participate.”
 
McCarthy and Weiske said it is important for all nonprofit organizations in Dunn and Pepin counties to sign up to participate in Give Big Valleys. Nonprofits can sign up at https://www.givebigvalleys.org/
 
“This is a great strategy for the nonprofits to reach their donors and give them an opportunity to raise awareness of their existence, mission and impact,” McCarthy said. “We encourage all types of nonprofits to join us in Give Big Valleys.”
Nonprofits that sign up for Give Big Valleys can use the fundraising resources on the United Way site “all year around to run fundraising campaigns” because many nonprofits can’t afford their own fundraising platforms, Weiske said. Nonprofits also are encouraged to seek matching dollars.
 
McCarthy said the goal is to have 125 nonprofit organizations participate, which would be 35 more than last year. The effort raised $500,000 last year, which is split among participants according to their fundraising efforts.
 
“In one day, that is a remarkable amount for our area,” McCarthy said. “We hope to exceed that this year.”
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 Dunn County Seeks Input for a 20-Year Vision

Dunn County Seeks Input for a 20-Year Vision
 
Dunn County officials invite residents to help shape the county’s future by guiding decisions on land use, infrastructure and community priorities for the next 20 years.
 
“This is an opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are now and where we want to go,” said Tammy Traxler, Dunn County Planner and Zoning Administrator, about the newly launched effort to update the county’s Comprehensive Plan. “The public’s input is crucial as we update our Comprehensive Plan and Farmland Preservation Plan.”
 
State law requires each county to develop a 20-year comprehensive plan — updated every 10 years — to document current conditions such as population trends, land use, development pressures, natural resources, and infrastructure.
 
Traxler said the plan covers key areas, including land use, transportation, housing, economic development, natural and cultural resources, utilities and community facilities. By integrating these elements, she said, it creates a framework that brings everything together for decision-making and ensures local policies align with the county’s long-term vision.
 
Officials said the plan serves as a guide for local decision-making rather than imposing new regulations or programs.
The plan's agricultural component will update the county’s Farmland Preservation Plan to protect farmland, support local agriculture and preserve Dunn County’s rural character.
 
“A comprehensive plan serves as a foundational policy document that guides the long-term physical, social, and economic development of a community,” Traxler said. “For Dunn County, this plan is essential to ensure coordinated growth, preservation of natural resources, and the well-being of its residents.”
 
The West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission is assisting the county with data collection and analysis, coordinating public engagement activities, drafting plan components, and providing other essential resources.
 
The update process is expected to take about 18 months, with completion anticipated by mid-2026. This timeline ensures a thorough, inclusive process that includes research, community engagement, drafting and review, Traxler said.
 
Traxler said there will be many ways for the public to contribute to this plan update, including:
  • Community surveys to share thoughts through online and paper surveys to guide priorities
  • Pop-up meetings offering informal engagement sessions at local events and community spaces
  • Public meetings and workshops to learn more, ask questions and provide direct input; and county staff are available to attend events to discuss the plan and hear ideas.
To invite county staff to a community event, email plan@co.dunn.wi.us
 
For more information and to provide feedback, visit https://dunncountywi.gov/compplan and follow the process on social media.
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 Dunn County restricts weight on Highway BB/Tainter Lake bridge

A routine bridge inspection has led Dunn County highway officials to reduce to 20 tons the weight allowed on the County Highway BB/Tainter Lake bridge in Cedar Falls.
 
"We inspect our bridges every year or every other year," said Dustin Binder, Highway Commissioner. "A recent inspection was performed on bridge structure B17-951 and concluded that certain steel members of the bridge have deteriorated to a point that warrants the implementation of a 20-ton gross vehicle weight load posting of this structure."
 
The weight limit on the County Highway BB/Tainter Lake bridge was reduced from 45 tons to 20 tons, Binder said, and signs with the new weight limit have been installed.
 
All loads greater than 20 tons must use an alternate route and are restricted from crossing the posted bridge. Disregarding the load posting is subject to fines and could compromise the structural integrity of the bridge, Binder said.
 
This bridge structure will be monitored annually by licensed inspectors and will be evaluated for potential replacement in the future, he added.
 
For more information, contact the Dunn County Highway Department at 715-232-2181 or by email at hwy@co.dunn.wi.us
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 Dunn County’s nursing home improves fiscal picture

A change in Medicaid reimbursement rates by the state of Wisconsin has significantly improved the financial picture for The Neighbors of Dunn County, the county-operated nursing home in Menomonie. 

Administrator Carmen Meyer told the County Board of Supervisors recently that the facility would have an operating budget surplus of $1.2 million for 2024, after two years of budget shortfalls. 

Additionally, Meyer said, “the next five years are all projected to be in the black.” 

County Board Chair Kelly McCullough said supervisors know how important The Neighbors of Dunn County is for their constituents, and the improved fiscal picture is outstanding news. 

“We know that government-owned and operated nursing homes consistently get better ratings for care than for-profit facilities,” McCullough said, “and the fact that we can provide a better standard of care for our aging population with little to no tax impact shows the value of public services run by public entities. 

“The Neighbors is an absolute gem and will help many of our older citizens stay close to home when they need a skilled nursing facility.” McCullough said. 

The good news about The Neighbors of Dunn County’s finances comes as an increasing number of publicly owned nursing homes and similar facilities are either being sold to for-profit companies or are closing.  In Wisconsin, just 14 percent of nursing homes are publicly owned, with for-profits owning 54 percent and non-profits owning 32 percent. 

Since 2016, Meyer told the County Board, 66 nursing homes have closed in Wisconsin, and 12 nursing homes within 50 miles of Dunn County have closed since 2016.  These include Dallas Care and Rehab in 2018 and Colfax Health and Rehab in 2023, and three in the Eau Claire area.   

Additionally, the number of licensed nursing home beds decreased from 28,719 in March 2020 to 25,891 in October 2022. 

Meyer said The Neighbors of Dunn County traditionally has operated in the black, if depreciation was not included.  But a change in Wisconsin’s Medicaid reimbursement rate in the last two years means that The Neighbors of Dunn County is expected to have a surplus in coming years, even accounting for depreciation. 

For many years, Meyer said, the state of Wisconsin “had one of the worst Medicaid reimbursement rates in the country.” But that changed in the 2023-25 state budget, she said. 

In 2022, the state Department of Health Services announced that in the 2023 fiscal year, Medicaid would cover an average of 91 percent of the cost of care provided in nursing homes, up from 77 percent in 2022. Gov. Tony Evers’ pandemic relief plan set aside $258 million to increase Medicaid reimbursements. Unlike previous increases, it guarantees minimum payments to providers. 

Another aspect of the change means facilities can get more assistance as their costs increase, Meyer said, adding, “the reimbursement should keep increasing as costs increase.” 

The nursing home will be even more important in the future as the Dunn County population continues to age, Meyer told the County Board.  In 2010, residents 65 and older made up 12 percent of the county’s population, and that is projected to increase to 26 percent by 2040. 

The Neighbors of Dunn County actually is comprised of three separately licensed skilled nursing facilities.  It has a total of 137 beds. In the last year, 246 residents lived at various times at the facility. 

 

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 Dunn County adopts core values for entire organization

Dunn County adopts core values for entire organization 
 
The Dunn County Board of Supervisors has adopted a set of core values for employees and elected officials to follow. 
 
“Core values are the bedrock of an organization’s identity,” said Kris Korpela, Dunn County Manager. “They serve as a compass to guide decision making, actions, and behavior across all levels of county government.” 
 
The values, adopted in November, "shall be embraced and upheld by all members of the organization,” according to the resolution. The core values are: 
 
• Dedication: Unwavering commitment to those we serve. 
 
• Professionalism: Upholding competence, courtesy, and respect in all interactions and responsibilities. 
 
• Ethics: Consistently acting with honesty and integrity. 
 
• Betterment: Making things progressively better, more effective or improved. 
 
• Collaboration: Working together to achieve a shared goal. 
 
Korpela said the values were developed by the Dunn County Employee Relations Workgroup over the past six months and were “validated by all county staff through inclusion in the employee satisfaction survey conducted earlier this year.” 
 
The values also were reviewed and approved by the Committee on Administration and the Executive Committee, as well as the full County Board. 
 
The values, Korpela said, “provide a common language and understanding of what Dunn County stands for. They build trust with the public by demonstrating a commitment to ethical behavior. Values-driven organizations tend to have higher employee morale and engagement.   
 
Korpela also said it is important that the supervisors approved setting up a mechanism to monitor how the values were being followed so they remain relevant and are upheld consistently. 
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  Community Invited to Help Shape Health Plan for Dunn County

Community members are invited to attend a meeting in early December to discuss the results of the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment and help plan next steps.
 
KT Gallagher, Director of the Dunn County Health Department, explained, "Every three years, we work with our partners to survey the community and find out what the biggest health issues are that need attention.
 
This year's results highlighted the following health priorities for Dunn County residents: access to childcare, water pollution and environmental concerns, access to healthcare, alcohol misuse, and access to safe and affordable housing. The full report can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/3vpjxwmf
 
To address these issues, the Health Department and Health Dunn Right, a community health coalition, will hold a kick-off meeting on from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Rassbach Museum, 1820 John Russell Road, Menomonie. The meeting will discuss the report and plans for future action. To attend and get a free boxed lunch, please register by November 27 by filling out this online form.
 
Gallagher said the Health Department encourages everyone in Dunn County who cares about these issues to come to share their ideas.
"We need the community's help to come up with solutions that make sense for Dunn County," Gallagher said. "Your life experience may be exactly what we need to help solve these issues."
 
Guest speakers at the event include Steven McCarthy, Executive Director of the United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys, and Dr. Corrie Norrbom from the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service. Speakers will discuss the survey results, next steps, and how the community can work together to take action.
 
There will also be small discussion groups at the meeting to talk about the different health priorities, where participants can help set goals for action.
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