* Let’s take a look at the Quincy veterans’ home task force report. Sun-Times…

The task force issued four recommendations, stating that “anything less than complete reconstruction will fall short.” The report recommends building a new nursing facility that could house up to 300 residents. The estimated cost is between $190 and $230 million.

The task force also recommends constructing a new, underground “water loop” that feeds existing buildings and new construction.

“New piping would remove the current system, which is suspected to contain significant amounts of mature biofilm — biofilm which may be harboring biological organisms” the report says. The report says all plumbing and piping must also be replaced, with the new plumbing loop estimated at $2.2 million and the new piping estimated at $13.4 million.

The other recommendations include developing an alternate water source and making improvements to the existing water treatment facility and purchasing and renovating an off-site facility to temporarily house residents during construction and demolition of the original campus. The report notes “the asking price of the building is $795,000 and construction costs for this project are under review and tentatively estimated at $5M-6M.”

The estimated cost of complete reconstruction is between $202 million and $245 million, the report notes. It must be approved by the Illinois General Assembly.

That’s a lot of money, but some federal dollars could soon be available, with the state required to put up a 35 percent match. Still, according to the Quincy Herald-Whig, the total federal approp for state-run veterans’ home construction is expected to be $500 million, so Illinois would likely be eligible for only a fraction of that. And Illinois is trying to finish constructing another veterans’ home in Chicago.

The governor explained to reporters yesterday that an alternative water source is necessary because the home currently takes surface water from the Mississippi River, where the bacteria often grows. The governor seemed pretty knowledgeable yesterday about details of both the problems and potential solutions. He appears to be taking the time to really get his head around this.

* What else does the governor want the GA to do? From the report itself…

• Extend the sunset date for the Design Build Act - SB 3128 seeks an extension to the sunset date of the Design Build Act (30 ILCS 537/5) which permits CDB to use the design-build delivery method on public projects. Design-build can allow for an expedited construction schedule.

• Access to federal reimbursement funding for capital projects, subject to appropriation - Legislation has been filed that contains trailer language to Public Act 98-0245 (SB 667, SB 3127, SB 3144). This Public Act contained contradictory language respective to where federal reimbursement funds for capital facilities projects should be deposited. As a result, the reimbursement funding cannot be released or used for any purpose, and it is collecting in the Capital Development Board Contributory Trust Fund. Currently, over $12 million is in the fund, with an additional $4 million expected in the near future. The purpose of this legislation is to allow the Capital Development Board the ability to use the federal reimbursements for capital projects, as appropriated by the General Assembly.

• Procurement Code-increase thresholds for financial disclosures - Section 50-35 of the Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500/50-35) requires financial disclosures from all vendors and subcontractors with a contract over $50,000 prior to work beginning on a project. Waiting for compliance from vendors and subcontractors can slow the project start time. Increasing the threshold for financial disclosure requirements from $50,000 to $250,000 can help expedite the projects referenced in this report.

• Licensing and Control of Off Campus Buildings - For continuity of care for the residents, a modification to the Veterans Affairs Act stating that for the purposes of licensing, supervision, appropriations, home funds, and member benefit funds, the Illinois Veterans Homes includes the main campus and all other residential structures operated by the Department that are located in the city limits of the Illinois Veterans Home.

I’m thinking they may not get what they want on the Procurement Code stuff, but we’ll see.

*** UPDATE *** Press release…

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the release of Governor Bruce Rauner’s plan of action for ensuring the safety of residents, family, and staff at the Illinois Veterans’ Home (IVH) Quincy:

“The need for a detailed plan of action is critical and long overdue given the multiple outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease at IVH Quincy that have sickened more than 65 residents and killed 13 over the past three years. The ideas in this plan are not new or revolutionary – in fact, all of the recommendations have been suggested for years and have been ignored by this Administration for far too long. It is unclear why it took so long for the Administration to come to this conclusion, but now that it has, we urge Governor Rauner to finally provide leadership on this crisis and implement these changes before another resident or staff member falls ill or dies.

“As members of Illinois’ congressional delegation, we will continue to advocate for State Veterans Homes like IVH Quincy and push for federal funding, just as we did in the Fiscal Year 2018 spending bill, as well as technical assistance on their behalf. But now it is up to the Rauner Administration to do its part and carry out this plan of action immediately so that every veteran and staff member whose life is entrusted to the state of Illinois is in a safe facility.”