The director of the Department of Human Services is recommending the Mount Pleasant mental health facility be closed. D.H.S. director Charlie Krogmeier released his recommendation today to meet a deadline imposed by the state legislature that he submit a proposal to close one of the four state mental health institutes.
The other three are in Clarinda, Chariton and Independence. Krogmeier will discuss the decision with the media later today, but said in his announcement that he decided to recommend closing the facility that would cause the least amount of fallout for the staff, patients and community. The services provided at Mt. Pleasant would be moved to Indepence.
Krogmeier says the cost savings of closing the Mt. Pleasant facility would depend on when the facility is closed, but could be about $1.7- million. There are 108 employees at the facility in Mt. Pleasant and it has an operating budget of $8.8 million.
Krogmeier said he recognized the negative impact on the community with the closing of the Mount Pleasant facility, but says part of the loss could be offset if the Legislature decides to use the vacated space to expand the prison there.
See the director’s report here: www.dhs.state.ia.us/Partners/PublicInformation/AboutUs/OnePageSustate.ia.us