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Hillcrest employees submit resignations
LAUREL – Two managers and another employee have submitted a 30-day notice of resignation from the city-owned Hillcrest Care Center.
Marsha Meier, office manager, Katie Kvols, director of nursing, and another full-time nurse made their intentions known over the past week.
Meier said she informed two city council members weeks ago that she could no longer work with facility administrator Megan Wieck.
“I told them ... that if they decided to keep her, I would put in my notice,” Meier said. “The stress has affected my health and I no longer look forward to going to work.”
Meier said she’s saddened about the whole situation.
“I love this facility and seeing the residents brings me such joy,” she said. “Once I leave, I will come back and visit the residents and be able to do so with happiness.”
Resignations have come about after a monthslong public conflict between staff and the city over the facility administrator and alleged mismanagement of funds.
According to documents obtained by the Laurel Advocate, Wieck’s contract date began June 1, 2022, with an annual salary at $65,000. At that time, she was the administrator for both Hillcrest and the Elms Health Care Center in Ponca. According to the contract, she was considered a full-time employee for the City of Laurel with full-time benefits.
A year later, her salary was amended to $70,000. But then, only 11 days later, on June 12, 2023, her salary increased to $120,000 annually.
According to staff, it’s around this time that Wieck started working solely for Hillcrest. The Ponca nursing home closed Nov. 17, 2023, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
According to Wieck’s contract language, 60 days notice must be provided to terminate employment, however, the city could terminate for cause at any time including for attempted or actual misappropriation or destruction of city funds or property. The Hillcrest administrator reports to the city council.
The contract and addendums were signed by Mayor Keith Knudsen and Wieck.
The Nebraska Department of Labor has issued citations against the City of Laurel for violation of the Wage Payment and Collection Act which the city can appeal.
On Jan. 24, the city council unanimously approved a new $180,000 line of credit from Security Bank, Laurel, for one year, so Hillcrest Care Center could cover payroll.
A document circulated by Hillcrest staff details the city-owned facility’s financial obligations swelling year over year to more than $450,000 in accounts deemed open payables in other words, unpaid bills.
The bills continue to go unpaid despite an increasing line of credit to its current $500,000 - provided by Security Bank, where Mayor Knudsen is the president.
The city said the document circulated at the council meeting doesn’t give the full financial picture and didn’t include accounts receivable information. Instead, the city said Hillcrest’s working capital deficit is $66,385.
Meanwhile, the facility administrator decides which vendors get paid. As a result of non-payment, many vendors have stopped doing business with the facility including staffing agencies and supply companies, staff said.
There are also minimal efforts in marketing the facility, said Wendy Krei, a registered nurse at Hillcrest. Currently, there are 18 residents receiving care at the 36-bed skilled nursing facility.
Community members have stated facility staff are excellent - “five stars” - and continue to care for residents as they would their own family members, despite tough working conditions.
Staff said they brought their concerns of financial instability and administrative mismanagement to light about two years ago to the seven-member nursing home advisory board. After the board started questioning the facility administrator, the council and mayor, the nursing home board was dissolved in May 2024. In its place, the mayor and city council were tasked with overseeing the center’s operations, governance and administration.
Feeling unheard by the city council, Hillcrest staff appealed to the public, hosting two wellattended meetings in January.
Several community members including some members of the previous nursing home advisory board collected about 235 signatures on a petition to remove Wieck and re-instate a nursing home advisory board, presenting those to the Laurel City Council.
In a statement, the council acknowledged receiving the petition and reassured residents their voices had been heard. However, the c0uncil did not take any action and would not share any specific details until “the city is granted permission.”
Instead, the city asked for time to pursue options for a positive result for Hillcrest residents, staff and the community.
Meetings between staff and city council members scheduled for Monday afternoon were canceled and have not yet been rescheduled.
