DuPage County finance committee gives unanimous consensus to advance DuPage Care Center east‑wing renovation; multiple routine contracts approved

DuPage County Finance Committee members gave unanimous consensus April 22 to move ahead with the next design and construction steps for the DuPage Care Center’s east building, staff told the committee, while also approving a slate of routine procurement contracts and grant applications across county departments.

Janelle Chadwick, executive director of the DuPage Care Center, told the finance committee the renovation work completed so far has reopened renovated resident rooms and common areas and that the next phase will focus on completing the east building’s resident areas. ‘‘We did lighting and finish upgrades on 3 South, Ground South, and Ground East common areas,’’ Chadwick said during a presentation to the committee. She described safety and design improvements in the dementia unit and nursing station that increased staff visibility and resident safety.

Nick (staff member), who presented project funding details on behalf of county finance staff, said the build‑out would be a roughly $17 million project and that it would be funded from the Care Center’s internal reserves rather than the county general fund. ‘‘The care center has those reserves. They have $31,000,000 in reserves in the care center,’’ Nick said, adding that the reserve figure dated to November and is likely higher now. He and other staff emphasized safeguards tied to uncertain federal reimbursement.

Tim Harbaugh, director of facilities, described the planned procurement sequence: staff recommended advancing to a 75% design package and then soliciting a construction‑manager‑at‑risk (CMAR) contractor so the CMAR can produce a guaranteed maximum price once design details are developed. Harbaugh told the committee the schedule staff proposed would bring a 75% design contract to the Human Services committee on May 6 and a construction contract approval request in August. He said staff expected the physical build‑out work to begin in June or July 2026 and estimated about 13 months to complete the construction. Harbaugh also cautioned that “we would not start to expend this money until about February of 2027,” giving the board a financial decision point before major cash outlays.

Committee members who spoke during the discussion voiced support and asked about federal funding risk. Member Amber Gayle voiced full support, saying the economies of scale and existing project team…