ROCHELLE — Local residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinion at a hearing on a proposed long-term nursing care and rehabilitation facility planning to come to Rochelle.
The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. at Spring Lake Marina, came at the request of Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Living Center in DeKalb in response to plans announced by RFMS, Inc. in August for building a deluxe Liberty Village nursing and rehabilitation center on Rochelle’s northwest edge of town.
As is customary procedure, once an application for a proposed health care facility is completed and submitted, the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board publishes a legal notice of review and opportunity for public hearing and written comment.
Illinois Health Facilities and Services project review supervisor Mike Constantino confirmed Pine Acres submitted a request for the hearing before the Aug. 31 deadline.
On Monday, Pine Acres administrator Dalena Kemna-Kahn acknowledged she did indeed ask for the hearing based on her belief there is not currently a need for more nursing bed units in the region.
“I actually found out about this proposal through the article in the Rochelle News-Leader and while I wasn’t alarmed, I am concerned,” Kemna-Kahn stated. “From recent state reports I’ve seen Rochelle isn’t really growing and I don’t believe there is a bed shortage there, so I don’t understand why we need more competition in this market. There isn’t enough qualified help as it is, so where are they going to find the workers for this facility? I don’t want to see all of us end up with half-filled facilities.”

Plans for Liberty Village’s 124-unit skilled nursing, rehabilitation and assisted living facility includes units for traditional nursing residents, as well as rehab units and programs, a wing for residents with memory issues and independent living apartments. The single-story structure would be built north of San Gabriel and south of Lincoln School just off of Flagg Road. It would span nearly 64,000 square feet at a cost of $17.6 million. Developers say when fully operational, the facility would provide jobs for 175 staff members.

Many Rochelle residents packed the community room at Lincoln Manor this past Thursday morning for an informational meeting on the project and to see the plans for the proposed facility.
Sandi Ritter with Support Services explained the project and answered questions regarding what the facility has to offer. An overwhelming majority of those in attendance expressed the need for enhanced rehabilitation services in Rochelle.
Rochelle resident Dave Eckhardt is in favor of the Liberty Village project, giving an example that his mother had to leave town for nursing home facilities.
“Locally, we just don’t have choices and this would be great for Rochelle to have a facility like this build here,” Eckhardt said. “Because of her circumstances and situation, we had no option but to take my mom out of town for her nursing needs. Just the travel alone is expensive for our family and it would be nice to have her in a local facility. So, I can tell you from a personal standpoint that we definitely have a need here in Rochelle.”
Local real estate developer Tim Hayden agreed, pointing out that Ritter has a petition with more than 100 signatures of local residents who want to see the facility be built Rochelle.
“Despite some beds being available here, Rochelle residents are still going to other towns for care,” he stated. “Liberty Village’s state-of-the-art facilities and amenities would be a nice addition to the community.”

Hearing details
Constantino said public comments are welcome at the Oct. 12 hearing. A transcript of the hearing and all public comments will be forwarded to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services board members for further review.  A hearing officer and two board members will be present at the hearing.
Anyone wishing to submit written comments on this project is asked to send them to:  Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, 525 West Jefferson St., Second Floor, Springfield, IL 62761. Address the letter to the attention of either Mike Constantino or Courtney Avery.
Written requests must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2017.
The State Board will post its findings in a State Board Staff Report, and the report will be made available via the internet on Dec. 26, 2017, after which a public comment period will be opened until Jan. 2, 2018.
Constantino said the board is scheduled to meet in January for a final decision.