Title
Emergency Appropriation of Health Center Construction Grant Funds - Nordstrom
Body
We are pleased to bring forth a request for an emergency appropriation for FY20 revenue. This request covers 100% non-tax levy funds in the amount of $3,000,000. These funds are available from State of Illinois Community Health Center Construction Act (Act) grant funds and are administered by the Capital Development Board (CDB) in consultation with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
In 2014, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD/CHC) requested and was awarded a $3,000,000 grant through the Act administered by CDB. The original intent was to support the construction of a new community health center facility in Zion. The formal notice of award for CDB Project No. 775-097-001 was made via a letter dated December 18, 2014.
Following the change of administration in the Governor’s Office occurring in January 2015, LCHD/CHC was then notified in an April 1, 2015 letter of the suspension of that award. After the suspension of the award, LCHD/CHC pursued new funding and location options and was able to open a renovated Zion Health Center in July 2018.
Following the change in the administration in the Governor’s Office in January 2019, LCHD/CHC was notified in October 2019 that the original grant funds were reinstated, and the funding opportunity was again available. The CDB allowed LCHD/CHC to submit a revised scope of work to allow for full expenditure of the original $3M award. A revised scope was submitted to the CDB in November 2019 to complete improvements to the health centers in Zion, North Chicago, and the Belvidere Medical Building. The proposed improvements are summarized below.
Zion Health Center
- Complete build-out of third dental operatory
- Install emergency generator to power all building systems
- Complete build-out and equip Clinical Simulation Lab (for clinical training)
Belvidere Medical Building (BMB) Health Center
- Upgrade ceiling and energy-efficient light fixtures and improve wayfinding signage
- Install emergency generator to power all building systems
North Chicago Health Center
- Renovation of intake, waiting, and patient care areas, and addition of a community room
- Dental Suite improvements
- Install emergency generator to power all building systems
The CDB notified LCHD/CHC in March 2020 that the scope changes were approved. Due to the timing of the required response to the COVID-19 pandemic, no next steps were immediately taken to execute the Grant Agreement. In correspondences with the CDB, they agreed and understood that the agreement execution would wait until such time as our agency was prepared to move forward with planning and execution of the projects. The timing was critical because the funds must be expended within two years of the execution of the Grant Agreement. We are now prepared to move forward with architect and engineer work.
Suggested Motion
To approve the $3,000,000 Emergency Appropriation to the appropriate revenue accounts and allocate the funding for renovation, construction, and equipping the health center sites as described.