DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center Oversight Board met March 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A Regular meeting of the Members of the DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center Oversight Board (hereinafter “Oversight Board”) was held Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room in DeKalb, Illinois pursuant to written notice to each Member as required by the By-Laws.

ROLL CALL

Board Secretary Liam Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. and called the roll. Those Members present were Abdul “Brother” El-Jamal, Mary Hatch, Rhonda Henke, Charlotte Hodder, Jerry Osland, Kay Riley, Frank Roberts, and Anna Wilhelmi. A quorum was established with Eight Members present, one absent. Rukisha Crawford arrived at 6:08 p.m. and was not present at the time of the roll call.

Others that were present included: County Administrator Brian Gregory, DCRNC Administrator Bart Becker and Board Secretary Liam Sullivan.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

It was moved by Roberts to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Wilhelmi and approved unanimously by voice vote.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Cathy Anderson, the former Administrator of the DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center (DCRNC) addressed the Oversight Board. She expressed that the County has invested millions of dollars to keep the facility financially stable and that this Board of volunteer experts needs to set expectations for the facility.

PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

Presentation of DCRNC History

County Administrator Brian Gregory presented a powerpoint presentation detailing the history of the financial challenges of the DCRNC and County Board Actions that resulted from the financial challenges. During the presentation, Gregory explained that the former management company – Management Performance Associates (MPA) - that was hired in 1997 to oversee the operations of the facility. MPA was also responsible for overseeing the unfinished expansion project of the facility. Gregory highlighted that some of the larger issues that the facility faced initially is lack of revenue due to failure to qualify individuals for aid and timely filing issues related to billing. Gregory noted that many contracts for the DCRNC were not previously put out for bid in compliance with procurement law.

Gregory also provided an overview of the Jordan Healthcare Group (JHG) Business Plan for the DCRNC that was adopted by the County Board in November of 2023. The plan is based on a financial forecasting model developed by Jordan Healthcare Group, a consultant who was brought in on an emergent basis in 2021 to assist the DCRNC with billing functions. JHG’s role has continued to grow over time. Gregory explained that due to JHG’s scope of work no longer being on an emergent basis and being over the $30,000 threshold annually, the Oversight Board should consider putting those services out for bid in the future so as to comply with the County’s procurement policy and procurement law.

ACTION ITEMS

Election of Officers

Per the By-Laws of the Oversight Board that were approved by the County Board in January of 2024, the Election of Officers shall take place at the organizational meeting of the Oversight Board. The officers of the Oversight Board shall be a Chair and a Vice-Chair.

Sullivan asked the Oversight Board if there were any nominations for the position of Chair of the Oversight Board.

Crawford nominated Anna Wilhelmi and the nomination was seconded by Osland. Sullivan asked twice more if there were any further nominations. There were no further nominations.

The motion to Elect Anna Wilhemi as the Chair of the Oversight Board passed by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

Chair Wilhemli asked the Board if there were any nominations for the position of Vice-Chair of the Oversight Board.

Chair Wilhemli nominated Mary Hatch and the nomination was seconded by Roberts. Wilhelmi asked twice more if there were any further nominations. There were no further nominations.

The motion to elect Mary Hatch as the Vice-Chair of the Oversight Board passed by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

Selection of Terms

At the first meeting, terms for public members will be determined by chance, with three public members receiving two-year terms and two public members serving one-year terms. El-Jamal was asked to draw numbers out of a bag when a name was called so that the terms were decided by chance. The drawing went as follows:

Hatch – One-Year Term

Hodder – One-Year Term

Kay Riley – Two-Year Term

Frank Roberts – Two-Year Term

Anna Wilhemli – Two-Year Term

Approval of Oversight Board Bylaws

Crawford moved to approved the Oversight Board Bylaws. Roberts Seconded the motion.

During Discussion, the Board reviewed the Bylaws and reached a consensus to table the matter until the next Oversight Board Meeting.

Approval of 2024 Meeting Schedule

Hatch moved to approve the meeting schedule below:

All meetings are scheduled to be held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00PM in the DCRNC’s Multipurpose Room unless otherwise indicated.

April 23, 2024       September 24, 2024

May 28, 2024       October 22, 2024

June 25, 2024      November 12, 2024

July 23, 2024       December 10, 2024

August 27, 2024

Riley seconded the motion and it was approved by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

OLD BUSINESS

There were no Old Business items.

NEW BUSINESS

Chair Wilhemli provided the Board with a suggestion list that was sent to her by a resident’s family member. Wilhemi directed staff to add these items to the agenda for the following meeting.

TOUR OF DCRNC FACILITY

Bart Becker, the DCRNC Administrator, led the Board and members of the public who were in attendance on a tour of the facility.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion to adjourn was made by Osland at 8:53PM, seconded by Crawford, and approved by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/minutes-rnc-03262024.pdf