Oconto Falls ADRC branch office to expand

OCONTO FALLS — Oconto County has entered into a modified lease for its Aging and Disability Resources Center to accommodate expanded services for people and their families who are dealing with dementia.

The ADRC of the Wolf River Region – which serves residents of Oconto, Shawano and Menominee counties, as well as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community – has been expanding services at its Oconto Falls satellite office at 229 Van Buren St., county Health and Human Services Director Mike Reimer told the Oconto County Board during its Jan. 23 meeting.

“The additional services are for dementia care,” Reimer said. “This is a state rollout over maybe the last seven years or so. … We hired a dementia-care specialist, and we’re making efforts to get our communities to understand dementia issues in our stores and our churches and roads, those types of things.”

The county has rented the office space from JMAKAS Enterprises LLC since 2013 at a cost of $1,850 per month for 2,715 square feet. The new lease provides an additional 476 square feet for $395, bringing the total to 3,191 square feet at a monthly rent of $2,245.

Federal and state funds pay for the ADRC’s budget, so the money does not come from the county property tax, Reimer said.

Supervisor David Parmentier questioned the need to rent space rather than purchase a building for the ADRC.

“That’s quite a chunk of cash for rent in Oconto Falls,” Parmentier said.

Reimer said when the ADRC started, the department looked at buildings in Oconto Falls, Gillett and Lena, and this was the best alternative in terms of the amount of space available that could be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The state has spent about $100,000 to date on renovations.

“We chose this building because it is centrally located,” Reimer said. “Everybody goes through Oconto Falls in the entire county, and it’s worked out pretty well for us.”

The board voted 30-0 to approve the new lease.