Garrow Villa’s future in transition

June 13, 2019

By David Nordby

The Brillion News

BRILLION – The future of Garrow Villa in Brillion is in limbo.

Ongoing financial and staffing problems have led to a potential sale of the facility that features a 24-hour awake staff and room and board for up to 20 elderly residents.

Dana Irish and the Brillion Housing Authority Board approached city council about the potential sale, unsure if they needed council’s approval. Garrow Villa is part of the Brillion Housing Authority.

“There’s an interested buyer,” Dana Irish said to city council two weeks ago. “We’re kind of in an interesting position with that. We understand that we need your permission to sell and there also could be a bidding process that we have to go through.” 

At the meeting, Irish stressed that staffing problems could force the facility to close its doors in two weeks.

“We’ve had residents pass away and then we had staff leave because of wages,” Irish said. “We are trying to up wages for these people.”

Irish later told the newspaper that the staffing situation is “ok.”

The Housing Authority had previously wondered if the facility could be turned into an apartment complex. Irish said it would be almost impossible without funding for renovation.

She referred to the potential buyer as a “best case scenario.”

“His philosophy of care is very much like ours. He operates a small assisted living operation in Darboy right now and it’s a wonderful place,” Irish said.

Irish noted that the potential buyer would like to make Garrow Villa feel like a family living situation.

Alderperson Sarah Pielhop said her only concern was that the city maintains ownership of the railroad bed that is nearby the facility for future city trail development.

By the end of the meeting, city council gave Irish its blessing to pursue the sale, though the legal hurdles are still being hatched out. 

Please see the complete story in the June 13, 2019 edition of The Brillion News.