The Wright County Supervisors joined Eagle Grove Mayor Sandy McGrath, Councilman Al Pamperin, and City Administrator Bryce Davis, on a tour of Eagles Wings Daycare early Monday morning, July 19. Eagles Wings Director LuAnne Pedersen met them for the walk-through, explaining along the way the changes that have been made since it was first built in February of 2000, and the repairs and upgrades that are still necessary to meet Eagle Grove’s growing population today.
The tour came about as part of a $2.4 million package that has been allocated to Wright County from the American Relief Plan (COVID).
“We are doing our due diligence…looking at the best way to spend the money…and the needs of Wright County daycares are on that list,” said Supervisor Karl Helgevold.
He went on to note that there are alot of employment options available in Wright County at this time, but we lack in daycare and housing – hence, the tour of Eagles Wings on Monday morning, followed by a tour of the Belmond daycare facility Monday afternoon. A visit will be scheduled at a later date to discuss the needs of Clarion daycare since they are looking for a new location since the school district needs the space the daycare was currently using.
“There is such a need for daycare right now,” Helgevold said. “Each town (Eagle Grove, Clarion, and Belmond) has their own special needs.”
As far as Eagles Wings Daycare goes in Eagle Grove, the current facility is licensed to accept 129 students. However, Pedersen said not only would she crowd that many kids into the building, but she would need a whole lot more staff to offer that many spots. Before COVID, she said the count was between 100 – 105 children. They haven't quite recovered to those same numbers yet, but their numbers usually dip a bit in the summer anyway. She is not concerned about it at this time.
What she is concerned about, however, and explained to the Supervisors, is the pay she is able to offer her daycare workers.
“An ideal starting wage would be $10 – $12 an hour,” Pedersen said.
Everyone in attendance agreed that more money is needed to pay staff, but spending Relief money to help isn’t the long-term answer. It would help for a while, but once that money is gone, how will the center continue to pay those wages?!
“What would be the plan for that?” asked Supervisor Kluse.
“I’m open to suggestions,” answered Pedersen.
Instead, the Supervisors are looking to help the daycares of Wright County with more permanent solutions. Pedersen and Davis both explained Eagles Wings are in great need of some short-term capital improvements like software updates, kitchen modifications, replacing the furnace, removing and replacing the existing entrance, replacing the HVAC system, new shingles, new tiling to replace what is “bubbling up” inside the building, get water away from the building by adding more dirt…and the list goes on.
“It’s things like that we would look at,” said City Administrator Davis.
The bonus factor is that these short-term improvements wouldn’t be a waste of money if, and when, a possible expansion comes. The current facility is 7,500 square feet. A proposed expansion would add an additional 4,722 square feet.
Eagles Wings is currently open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
“Our rates are competitive with, or even cheaper than, some of the in-home daycares,” added Pedersen.
No decisions of any kind were made during the daycare tours today, but Helgevold said he believes the Supervisors should come to a conclusion in a matter of a few weeks.
“I personally would like to see equal funding given to all three daycares,” said Helgevold.
How it all works out remains to be seen. The one thing that’s for sure right now, however, is that the Relief money must be spent by 2024, in accordance with guidelines specified. Wright County received half of the money, $1.2 million, now in July, and will receive the other half of the money next year.
