Director for vets home selected

Monday, Jan. 6, 2003 | 9:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A New Mexico woman will become the new administrator of the state Veterans Home in Boulder City on Jan. 20, ending a four-month search.

Chuck Fulkerson, executive director of the Nevada office of Veteran Services, said Friday that Geri Farris, who is now an administrator of a nursing home in Santa Fe, N.M., will replace Tom Feeback, who has been acting director.

Farris, who will be paid $77,000 annually, has been licensed as a long-term care nursing home administrator in New Mexico, Texas and Nevada. She was one of eight people who applied for the job during a national search.

There are 32 residents in the 180-bed home, which experienced construction problems in delays and cost overruns before its opening last year.

John Sias, who headed the home for military veterans during its construction for three years, was asked to resign by Fulkerson last September. Sias said he was fired and never given a reason. Fulkerson said it was personnel matter.

The home recently was certified to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments, Fulkerson said. He said the home still must receive clearance from the Veterans Administration, which he hopes will come within 60 days.

Fulkerson said that is needed because the VA pays one-third of the cost of care for the former military personnel who are able to live at the home. There are more than 100 people on a waiting list to be accepted.

Fulkerson said a 24-bed unit for Alzheimer's disease patients has opened at the home.

The state awarded a $14.7 million contract to Addison Construction Co. of Las Vegas to build the home. Addison fell behind and the state Public Works Board removed the company from the job.

Completion of the project was more than a year behind schedule and there was $1 million cost overrun.

Addison filed suit in District Court in Las Vegas, saying it was owed money for the work it performed. Dan O'Brien, manager of the Public Works board, said the suit is in the discovery stage and still pending.