New Winchester House pushed
A finished product is at least three years away, but a broad-based citizens group is urging Lake County leaders to move quickly on a plan to build a new Winchester House long-term care facility.
"We're trying to keep the momentum," said Tom Lenz, head of Lake County United, a coalition of about three dozen religious, civic and labor groups.
Rebuilding the facility was one of the topics discussed this week during Lake County United's fall assembly. About 300 who attended were urged to spread the word about the facility plans.
"Don't keep Winchester House a secret within your institution," explained Michael Knight, a Libertyville resident and member of the Winchester House Advisory Committee.
"We also want to make sure the Lake County Board feels and hears the support of their constituents."
Opened in 1847, Winchester House is one of the oldest continuously operated health care facilities in northern Illinois. Although a tax levy specifically for Winchester House was established about 30 years ago, the county still has had to subsidize the operation.
But the 360-bed facility in Libertyville is past its prime. Studies have shown it would be more cost effective to build a new center rather than revamp the old one.
As a destination of last resort for those with limited resources, the debate over what should happen has been intense at times and could resurface in the upcoming campaign for county board seats.
The county board about 18 months ago voted 22-1 to pursue a new, smaller building.
"The cost of the building isn't as important as the cost of operating it," said County Administrator Barry Burton.
Plunkett Raysich Architects was selected this spring to develop options for what has been estimated as a $31 million project. "We're just in preliminary design," Burton said.
A clearer picture of what the facility will look like, what type of services will be offered and other details will emerge as the process continues. But it is far from being ready for official consideration, he added.
"Building a new facility actually will save taxpayers money," according to Knight.
As envisioned the new Winchester would house 175 patients with a portion of them being private pay as opposed to Medicaid recipients. The setting is envisioned to be more homey than hospital.
The amount of Medicaid reimbursement and high labor costs are variables to be considered, according to Steve Carlson, chair of the county board's health & community services committee. Carlson attended the assembly Wednesday.
"I'd like to see it built," he said Thursday. "Government and this society has a certain obligation," to provide services. "But the government also has an obligation to the taxpayer."