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r- ? -.1 * Pag* Tw.nly-Tw# tH THE McHENHT FLAINDEALER • 1 • Thursday. March 28* 196$ f . ......k-W^ Questions About Class Property Are' Answered Don Wicks, Woodstock attorney and former McHenry county state's attorney, today issued the following statement about the Class property on Throop street which was mentioned recently in an article about the Valley Hi Nursing Home bond referendum: In your issue of March 18th, you carried a story under the headline "Nehlig Explains County Use of Class Property," and in the article a statement is attributed to Nehlig to the effect that the Class property cannot be sold by the Board of Supervisors under the terms of the will of William Class. If Mr. Nehlig made this statement, it is incorrect. I have been waiting to see whether he wouldn't voluntarily make a correction or whether the chairman of the Board of Supervisors would not undertake to make the correction. However, as of this date, they apparently have not seen fit to do ao. I therefore, point out that the Board of Supervisors requested and authorized me, when I was state's attorney, by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, to clear any question of title in connc-ctioij with the Class property. This property consisted of three four-flat buildings, a large house and a smaller flat building located on Throop Street between Calhoun and South streets. The circuit court in Case No. 36614 by decree order entered in May, 1959, interpreted the will of William Class under which this property was left to McHenry county for the care of the poor of McHenry county, and upon the basis of the interpretation, a guarantee policy was secured from the McHenry County Title Company, No. 45500 showing good title in McHenry county to the prcipertM in question, subject only to Ime right of persons served by publication in the court proceeding to contest the same within the year provided by the statute, whicn policy is on file with the county clcik. This year expired in May, 1960, and since that date, the County Board of Supervisors has been in a position to sell this property if it so desires, the proceeds thereof, of course, to be kept in a fund for the care of the poor as the will provided. If the citizens of this county requested information concerning this property from Mr. Nehlig in connection with the proposed bond issue of $685,000.00, they must have done so for the purpose of determining the need for the new proposed project, and they are entitled to a correct answer. This is particularly true in view of the fact that the information being furnished to the people is being financed by county funds and given out by a county employee, who in view of the county home committee and the Board of Supervisors, should have had the full and correct information concerning the matter. It would be unfortunate if this bond issue was either passed or defeated on the basis of the information furnished by the county, which was not correct. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: I was fortunate enough to attend a meeting held at the Lakewood Village Hall on Feb. 28th. There were many interesting glide* presented and discussed. Mr. Nehlig of the Valley Hi Nursing Home presented the first set of slides and held an open question and answer period afterwards. Several of these were quite interesting. One point brought out and never answered fully, was why there was so much emphasis put on employees' residence areas, as compared to the area needed for the old people. Comparing the two, it would seem we are going to pay as much for the privilege of having the employees living on the farm as we will for making more room for our aged. Seems terribly ridiculous to this person. Another item brought out is that this home is supposed to be for those who have no family to turn to, or no means to pay for adequate nursing. Yet we find that there are people housed here that can well afford being treated privately, or be housed in a private nursing home. Is this right? Is this why we need an addition to Valley Hi Nursing Home? Or are we going to increase our taxes by $685,000 just to afford shelter to more people who can well afford other means? An interesting point made also, was the comparison between Lake County's home and ours. At Lake County they built a home for a total cost of some $690,000, housing 153 patients against our proposed 90 bed home. It seems strange that they can have so much more for far less money. Our total cost will be $970,- 000, as compared with Lake County's $690,000. There is an answer somewhere and we as taxpayers should find that answer before we vote "Yes" to an additional tax raise. At the last election, you, the taxpayers, voted down a referendum from the sheriff's office for far less money, and this would have helped you more directly, particularly in the ufiincorporated areas. I believe our police force needs our help far more if we are to have the proper policing that we desire. ^When a referendum is put before the public it is their opportunity to express their opinion on an important issue (Adv.) by voting. In this case it is also an expensive project. Be sure you know as many facts as possible, such as cost, size even design which anticipates not only employee quarters, but a 2Yu story plan for our precious old people, while we don't want multi-storied school buildings for our precious children in case of fire or explosion. Yours thoughtfully, W. T. Rogers Five Rest Homes In County Question Wisdom Of Voter . Approval Of Valley HI Bonds Five rest homes in McHenry county this week have addressed an appeal to taxpayers questioning the wisdom of the bond issue for Valley Hi which will be voted on by the county in a special election April 2. The homes are Birchwood Rest Home, Woodstock, Hazel Beckwith, administrator; Florence Nursing Home, Marengo, Gale Ryan, administrator; Harvard Rest Home, Harvard, Beatrice G. Shepp, administrator; Villa Nursing Home, McHenry, Anna Zee, administrator; and Woodstock Residence, Woodstock, I. B. Stein, administrator. According to a statement issued they affirm that the 1958 County Home bond issue will not be paid for another three >ears; that private nursing homes have always welcomed Illinois Public Aid and Township patents, and that they will continue to do so; and that there exists vacant beds in these nursing homes. The question is asked, in the statement issued, "why should the citizens of McHenry county be burdened with more taxes for new facilities when there are vacant beds for these patients?" The statement issued by the group declaies that additional nursing home patients can be provided by private enterprise and funds without additional taxes. TABLE APPEAL A resolution asking that the McHenry county Board of Supervisors endorse the $685,000 buildyig program at Valley-Hi Nursing Hopie was tabled yesterday. The resolution presented by Supervisor Ted Sterne was the topic of concern by board members who expressed the opinion that when the board had voted at the last meeting to put it on the ballot for the voice of the. people vote, it ended the matter as far as the board was concerned. (Adv.) •> » V TO THE TAXPAYERS OF McHENRY COUNTY Here Are Withheld FACTS About $685,000 COUNTY NURSING HOME (Valley Hi) BOND ISSUE WHAT IS THE RE At. COST? $800,000.00 -- because residents of McHenry County will pay $115,000.00 interest over the next 8 years. WHO WILL PAY THE $800,000.00? Only McHenry County PROPERTY OWNERS -- whose taxes increased 7.3% in the last year alone. IS $800.000.00X FOR 55 BEDS EXTRAVAGANT? YES -- Figure it out yourself. CONSTRUCTION COST -- $12,400.00 Per bed RETIREMENT COST -- $14,500.00 per bed Just think of it -- $151.00 per month per bed to pay off the bonds, and this does not include the co»i of patient car#. It is always easy for government to spend tax money extravagantly. WHAT DOES IT COST TO BUILD A GOOD NURSING HOME? Some of the finest nursing homes in the State of Illinois have been BUILT AND EQUIPPED by private investors for $6,000.00 per bed. This includes all furniture, fixtures and LAND. The County Nursing Home addition costing $12,400 per bed does not include LAND, furniture and equipment. How much more will these items cost the taxpayer. HOW MANY NURSING HOME BEDS ARE THERE IN McHENRY COUNTY? ^ 283 according to the census of the State Department of Public Health published I August, 1962. 1 for every 297 people! The U. S. Government experts say the national need is 1 for every 333. McHenry County does not need these expensive nursing home beds. The Chicago Central Services for chronically ill stated (Herald American, March 19, 1963) that almost 22% of the available nursing home beds in Chicago are empty. They stated nursing homes continue to expand despite their warnings! McHenry County has 48 empty nursing home beds today -- 17% of the available beds in the county. ' ;A DOES A COUNTY NURSING HOME ASSURE LOWER RATES FOR NURSING HOME CARE? - NO Published figures from the Illinois Public Aid Commission places the amount paid to county nursing homes over $2.00 per month HIGHER th-an those paid to private nursing homes. Compare this with the fact the county home pays no real estate taxes or other usual overhead expenses paid by private nursing homes. WHO CAN BE ADMITTED TO THE COUNTY HOME? In addition to County residents, the laws of the State of Illinois provides non-residents may be admitted and at the same rate! CAN PRIVATE PATIENTS BE ADMITTED? - YES Yes -- and they can not be charged more than welfare patients. DOES. $151.00 COVER THE COST OF CARE?-NO Taxpayers will provide free bond retirement. You as taxpayers are providing another $151.00 per month (bond retirement cost) for 8 years. Private patients get a free ride for 8 years of $151.00 per month. * WHERE HAS THE HUGE PROMOTION MONEY COME FROM? The CLASS PROPERTY brought in $9,831.25 last year. Has all this money been used to promote the personal interest of a few? Who approved these expenditures? WOULD THE ADDITION BE SELF-SUPPORTING? No -- if it were no tax money would be needed. And we are still paying on the 1958 bond issue of $285,000.00 which does not expire until 1966. Why Invest $800,000.00 In An Addition Which Will Cost The Taxpayers Of McHenry County DOUBLE What It Should Cost? Vote 11 AGAINST #/ the County Nursing Home Bond Issue on April 2nd COMMITTEE AGAINST THE NURSING HOME BOND ISSUE VOTE VOTE (Adv.)