Stephenson County committee approves RFQ to solicit bids for Stevenson Nursing Center; delays broker decision

Stephenson County oversight committee members voted 3-2 to approve a request for qualifications to solicit bids for the purchase of Stevenson Nursing Center, known as Walnut Acres, and unanimously agreed to delay a decision on hiring a property broker until the committee's June meeting.

The vote to approve the RFQ followed public comment urging the county not to sell the nursing home and a series of operational reports showing continued billing and collection work with a third-party vendor. Public commenter Chris Klucke of 128 North Bailey told the committee, “I would like to recommend against any action that puts the nursing home up for sale.” Klucke also said the nursing home was established by a referendum and added, “It is up to them to go to the ballot box…”

Why this matters: Committee members debated whether the question of selling the nursing home should be decided by a public referendum or through the committee's process. Members expressed concerns about the facility's finances and liability, and they discussed ongoing billing, collection and write-off efforts that affect the…