Rock Island County Board members say they will soon have to make some tough decisions about the future of Hope Creek Care Center.
Last Tuesday, voters narrowly rejected a tax levy increase that would have raised nearly $3.2 million for the county-owned nursing home. Fifty-one percent of people voted “against” the proposal to raise the tax levy, while 49 percent voted “for” it.
Hope Creek Administrator Trudy Whittington said many residents and employees were disheartened by the news.
"There was a lot of fear that came with that, especially for our residents and our families and our staff. But we've been trying to reassure everyone that just because the referendum failed, it doesn't mean that a 'For Sale' sign is going in the yard," said Whittington.
Monday, the county board's Health and Human Services Committee met for the first time since the vote. Members said that all options for dealing with Hope Creek remain on the table, but for now, they're waiting until all new county board members take office to make a final decision.
"With the transition that's likely to take place with board leadership, we sort of need to get through that first," said member Kim Callaway-Thompson.
Callaway-Thompson said there will be another meeting in early December when members will be able to make more solid decisions.
However, the closeness of the tax levy vote, a difference of just 1,027 votes, is likely a sign of just how divisive the issue will prove to be.
"There is still a lot of community support out there, and a lot of people do believe in what we're doing, and they know how important it is. So, that actually is just that much more motivation to keep going," said Whittington.