Dayspring breaks ground for new addition to nurses' station
Community leaders joined residents of Dayspring Assisted Living and Care Facility on Friday for a groundbreaking ceremony for a new addition to the existing nurses’ station.The 610-square-foot nurses’ station addition to the 3220 Olivesburg Road care facility will include a bedroom and bathroom used for quarantining as well as an additional room that will be used for video appointments and treatments. This new area will have a dedicated entrance so other medical personnel may enter and not interact with the general resident population, said Michelle Swank, executive director.
The rain came just as the ceremony was ending, after the ceremonial shovels moved dirt from the ground.
"God smiles down at Dayspring," Swank said.
Swank said the new addition will help Dayspring going forward with any future pandemic.
"We were able to apply and receive $250,000 of CBDG CARES Act money," she said.
Dayspring applied for funding through the Target of Opportunity CARES Act (CDBG-CV) Program in 2020. Thisfunding was to service projects that prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dayspringreceived $250,000 for the project and the remainder will be paid from Dayspring’s operating fund. The lowestand best bid was $340,000 from Tusing Builders & Roofing Services, which was within the 10% of the$315,000 estimate, Swank said.
The architect for the project is Dan Seckel of The Seckel Group.
Swank said the new addition will be connected to the existing nurses station and a window will become a door, pointing to the area of the red brick building. Canopies were set up for guests and residents to enjoy the ceremony and two large cakes were shared.
Swank said the builders have told her the one-story addition will be done by year's end and have central air. The rest of the facility is currently cooled by window air-conditioning units.
"The residents and staff are all watching," she said of prime windows for viewing construction. "You don't add on to a historic building everyday. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for all of us."
Banks said the nurses' station addition will be helpful to staff and residents.
He thanked everyone who is doing the work.
"I have a special place in my heart for the residents and the staff to keep them safe," he said.
Dayspring has not had a major construction project since the 1980s when an elevator was installed. The main structure, built in 1925, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
"It's the third building standing. The first two burned down," she said. Swank said every single building on the property is on the National Register, though most of the out buildings are not used. There is a slaughter building, a laundry/boiler building and barn. Dayspring, initially called the Richland County Infirmary, was originally a working farm for the county. Only 15 county homes are still operating in Ohio.
Work to renovate residents' bedrooms will continue; work was temporarily halted due to COVID, she said.
Swank said about 50 people, including 20 veterans, call Dayspring home.
"We take a lot of pride in our home and our history and the reason Dayspring is here is to care for our residents," she said.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: New addition to Dayspring provides needed space for medical care
