The first meeting of the County Nursing Home Board of Directors was this morning. Charles Lansford was elected Chairman. Mary Ellen O'Shaugnessey was elected as Vice Chairman.
I was impressed with the discussion at this first meeting. Lots of sound questions and insight. I think their expertise is going to bear some good fruit in the months ahead. Certainly what I saw today validates the votes of those who voted to create a board.
There is still the issue of the need for the Nursing Home for another loan in June. The question now is whether the Nursing Home Administrator and the new Board of Directors will be able to instill enough confidence in the future financial viability of the home in order to get County Board approval for the loan. It requires a majority vote.
Mary Ellen O'Shaughnessy is a smart cookie and will kick some butt to get things straightened up. Bravo to who ever got her signed on to help.
My best friend, Pete Czajkowski, is also on that committee. Pete was Vice President of Finance for U of I before he retired and is currently the Treasurer of Prarie Center. He is a good man and will say it when he steps in it.
This board really has its work cut out for it. I hope they're able to address the issues. I watched a couple of interviews last night about this topic. I hope the County doesn't give in to Union pressure to put yet another tax referendum on the ballot in November. We're probably already looking at one for the City of Champaign Township, and the Countywide tax increase for schools. Come November, the ballots will look like a novel, if this keeps up.