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* UPDATED x1 - Durbin, Duckworth respond * What’s in the Quincy veterans’ home report?

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* 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.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:24 am

Comments

$190 - $230 million? For 300 beds? That’s crazy money. No way it should cost that much.
I know there is more than just the rooms to be built but I can’t imagine a facility bigger than 1500 square feet per person. Times 300 that’s 450,000 square foot building. Time construction cost for nursings home of approx. $200 per sq ft. That comes out to $90 million. And I would think I’m being generous with the size and cost.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:51 am
It does not appear that the task force ever considered relocating the facility from Quincy.

This home is essentially intended to serve residents from Central Illinois. Wouldn’t it make sense to build the new, “state of the art” facility somewhere that is actually centrally located?

If we are going to start from scratch, we ought to consider Samgamon and Macon County as alternatives.

There are only 67,000 people in all of Adams County. Sangamon, Champaign, and Macon combine for more than half a million.

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:57 am
I have not seen the report, but was the former developmental disabilities center in Lincoln considered? What would it cost to turn that place into a home for veterans?

Comment by Say no to big government Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:10 pm
@Thomas Paine, yes or possibly a little further north-east to be close to the VA hospital in Danville. It makes no sense to keep the veterans in Quincy, when the services they need are on the other side of the state.

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:28 pm
My knowledge base is a little outdated, so I would be curious to know what CDB built or is building while the Design-Build Act was available. Yes, this method can save time, but it can also boost cost. Anyone know?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 1:24 pm
–I have not seen the report, but was the former developmental disabilities center in Lincoln considered? What would it cost to turn that place into a home for veterans?–

LDC has been closed for over 15 years. Considering how well the State maintains buildings that are still open, I can’t imagine the condition LDC is in today.

Comment by Real Goes Wrong Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 2:17 pm
Why can’t we finish the one in Chicago and add people who live in Central Illinois to Manteno and LaSalle?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 2:31 pm
@A Jack, most Veterans on this side of the state either use local medical care (waivers are offered by the VA) OR travel to either Columbia, MO or Iowa City, IA. Those options have something to do with the USDVA sectioning of our State.

Comment by Boots Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 2:35 pm
Let’s hope that the construction of the alternative water source is not just a bailout for the failed Republican mayor of quincy.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 2:49 pm
Watch Rauner try to add a TA poison pill to the Rs bill seeking Quincy appropriations.

Comment by James Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 3:13 pm
===in fact, all of the recommendations have been suggested for years and have been ignored by this Administration for far too long. ===

How many years?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 3:22 pm
Let’s just throw those Procurement Rules out the window for vendors/contractors of this project but when it comes to Medicaid rules….throw poor people under the bus and take away their benefits for not getting the paperwork right. Nice Governor!

Comment by justpeachy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 4:40 pm
How many years does not matter at this point in time. Rauner is the Govenor and has been for a few years now. A governorship is not a hobby or a business, and it’s time Rauner realized that, whether he likes it or not, he is in charge. This isn’t a “Because Madigan” situation. Thirteen people died on Rauner’s watch. Not Thompson or Edgar or Ryan or Blago or Quinn. It happened on Rauner’s watch, and if he doesn’t want to take charge and stop playing politics, then he needs to resign now, and let someone, even Evelyn, take the reins and work with State and Federal units of government to actually get something done.

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 4:48 pm
The VA home in Chicago is not finished and I was told the foundation was not poured correctly and needs to be replaced. It houses about 75 veterans. If they move out of Quincy, they will have to buy land if they do not own it. Also many of the larger institutions have problems with Legionnaires disease. The town of Quincy has problems with it also according to Governor Rauner. It is possible many towns in Illinois are dealing with Legionnaires due to the old water systems. Only way to know for sure is lab testing.

Comment by Wife of Veteran at Quincy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 8:28 pm
I suppose I should read the task force report, but the Sun-Times quote is decidedly odd: “biofilm which may be harboring biological organisms”.

MAY? Biofilms are constructed by “biological organisms,” IIRC. That one quote greatly undermines anything else the task force has to say.

bob roman

Comment by Robert M Roman Thursday, May 3, 18 @ 5:49 am
Just a couple other points: the report released included an intro by the now resigned head of IDVA. And “available for reimbursement” doesn’t explain where the money will come from in the first place. Our State is not only flat broke, we are still under a mountain of debt.

Comment by Boots Thursday, May 3, 18 @ 9:00 am