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 argued for moving forward. Member Desart and Member Sporzey also expressed support, noting benefits for residents and the prospect of increasing census when completed. Chadwick and finance staff said they would continue monitoring federal Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement changes and that the project included stop‑points if funding dynamics changed.

After staff presentations and member comments, the Finance Committee chair asked members for their position; the chair recorded ‘‘unanimous consensus for this to go forward.’’ Staff said they would return to the Human Services committee and then to the county board with specific contract approvals as design and procurement milestones were reached.

Votes at a glance (approved items noted below were acted on during the same April 22 meeting):

- HSP 16‑25: Contract purchase order to Central DuPage Hospital Association d/b/a Health Lab for patient phlebotomy and laboratory services for the DuPage Care Center, 04/23/2025–04/22/2026, not to exceed $40,000. Motion moved by Member Schorze; second Member Evans. Approved.

- HSP 18‑25: Contract purchase order to McKesson Medical Surgical Government Solutions, LLC, to furnish and deliver incontinent products for the DuPage Care Center, period stated by staff and approved (contract amount not to exceed $200,000). Motion moved by Member Schorze; second Member Evans. Approved.

- HSP 19‑25: Contract purchase order to Professional Medical and Surgical Supply, Inc., for ostomy, tracheostomy, urological and enteral supplies and enteral feeding formulas for the DuPage Care Center, 07/30/2025–07/29/2026, not to exceed $50,000. Motion moved by Member Sporsey; second Member Heather. Approved.

- HSR 11‑25: Resolution to rescind HSP 12‑25 issued to Alco Sales and Service Company for Elite X long‑term beds (original contract $109,192.16). Motion moved by Member Schorze; second Member Heather. Approved.

- HSP 20‑25: Contract purchase order to Alco Sales and Service Co. for replacement Elite X long‑term beds for the DuPage Care Center, 04/23/2025–04/22/2026, not to exceed $110,880. Motion moved by Member Sworsey; second Member Yoo. Approved.

- HSR 9‑25: Authorization to apply for Program Year 2026 Title III‑E Caregiver Resource Center Services (AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois). Motion moved by Member Schorzey; second Member Yoo. Approved.

- HSR 10‑25: Authorization to apply for FFY 2024 and FFY 2025 Section 5310 grant funds from the Regional Transportation Authority. Motion moved by Member Schorzey; second Member Gallosy. Approved.

- JPS CO‑3‑25: Amendment to purchase order 696219‑1 issued to Colossus, Inc., to increase contract encumbrance by $12,527 (new total not to exceed $582,597). Motion moved by Member Evans; second Member Yoo. Approved.

- JPS CO‑4‑25: Amendment to purchase order 728011‑1 issued to AT&T Mobility LLC to increase contract encumbrance by $75,000 (new total not to exceed $479,000). Motion moved by Member Evans; second Member Covert. Approved.

- JPS CO‑5‑25: Amendment to purchase order 7006‑1‑Serve issued to Titan Image Group, Inc., to add printing services and increase contract by $2,400 (amended total not to exceed $44,655). Motion moved by Member Evans; second Member Yoo. Approved.

- JPSP‑20‑25: Contract to Peter M. King of King Holloway LLC to provide child protection GAL attorney services for juvenile cases, 05/01/2025–04/30/2026, not to exceed $42,000. Motion moved by Member Evans; second Member Heather. Approved.

- JPSP‑21‑25: Contract purchase order to Heartland Business Systems for an intercom and access door system for the Sheriff’s Office, 04/29/2025–04/28/2028, not to exceed $338,174.12. Motion moved by Member Evans; second Member Zay. Approved.

- FMP 19‑25: Contract to Innerwise Global Technologies for participation in a demand‑response program, 06/01/2025–05/31/2026, contract approximately $452,048.52. Motion moved by Member Childress; second Member Covert. Approved.

- FMP 20‑25: Contract to Desmond, Inc., for phase‑2 architectural and engineering design services for parking decks, 04/22/2025–11/30/2029, not to exceed $364,010. Motion moved by Member Childress; second Member Brzee. Approved.

- FMP 15‑25 / FMR 125 (amendment): Contract and amendment to Grout, Inc. for refuse disposal, recycling and asbestos pickup services (two related motions expanding scope and locations and a 2% rate increase). Motions moved by Member Childress; second Member Heather. Approved.

- PWP 7‑25: Contract purchase order to Group Industries, Inc., for refuse pickup, recycling and asbestos pickup for Public Works, 06/01/2025–05/31/2026, not to exceed $80,000. Motion moved by Member Childress; second Member Zay. Approved.

- PWP 8‑25: Contract to Chicagoland Paving Contractors for parking lot rehabilitation at the wastewater treatment plant in Itasca (South Wall Complex), 04/22/2025–11/30/2025, not to exceed $99,000. Motion moved by Member Childress; second Member Zay. Approved.

- PWP 9‑25: Contract purchase order to Federal Signal Corporation (Standard Equipment Company) for a Vector 2100+ combination sewer cleaner for Public Works/Stormwater, 04/22/2025–04/21/2026, not to exceed $705,577. Motion moved by Member Schilders; second Member Zay. Approved.

- PWP 10‑20‑5 (Roel Chemical): Contract to Roel Chemical Corporation to provide sodium hypochlorite to Woodridge and Norwood water treatment facilities, 04/22/2025–04/31/2026, not to exceed $115,000. Motion moved by Member Childress; second Member Zay. Approved.

- PWR 3‑25 (amendment): Amendment to the Roel/Royal Chemical contract to decrease the contract rate (reported by staff as a decrease of ~3% to $2.10 per gallon delivered). Motion moved by Member Childress; second Member Zay. Approved.

- Finance and appropriations: Multiple additional appropriations and grant acceptances were approved, including HOME modification HM21‑02A with Catholic Charities (increase of $110,339 to $410,339), additional appropriations for the DuPage Care Center Foundation ($21,112), the Help America Vote Act polling place accessibility grant ($668,448), the Illinois Voter Registration Systems grant ($848,376), interest on the DuPage Animal Services capital project ($12,070), and a $10,000,000 appropriation for the Tort Liability Fund related to an anticipated large claim. Motions moved by finance members as recorded. Approved.

(Items above are drawn verbatim from committee agenda text and on‑the‑record motions; where the transcript included clear mover/second those are recorded. All listed items were moved, seconded, and the committee recorded ‘‘Aye’’ and the motion carried.)

Background and next steps

Staff told the committee they would present a 75% design contract to Human Services on May 6 and seek approval of a construction contract later in summer. Staff emphasized stop‑points tied to federal reimbursement and the Care Center’s executive director would have approval authority before major expenditures. If funding dynamics change, staff said the board could pause the project before the major construction spending begins. The committee recorded unanimous consensus to proceed with the design and procurement steps as described.