By NICK VLAHOS
For The Weekly Post
WILLIAMSFIELD – An assisted-living facility in Williamsfield that closed earlier this year appears to have at least one possible future tenant.
A representative of Canton-based Graham Health System was to tour the former Williamsfield Retirement Center last week, according to Village President Robert Johnson. He said he initiated contact with Graham, which operates a clinic at 120 E. Gale St. in Billtown.
“I know they were interested in expanding over here, but there’s no more room in their building,” Johnson said following a Village Board meeting Sept. 2.
The desired Graham expansion might include diagnostic equipment, according to Johnson. He said he also has been in touch with Peoria-based OSF HealthCare and several nursing-home firms regarding the vacant building, which is located along Illinois Route 180.
Achievement Unlimited Inc., which is based in Galesburg, agreed in June to donate the 16-apartment facility to the village. The building initially was a retirement facility but evolved into a group home for the developmentally disabled. Operating costs apparently became prohibitive.
Some local residents have continued to ask village officials to consider reopening the facility as a retirement home. Johnson and Trustee Kyle Gibbs rejected that idea, based primarily on economics.
“I would love to see that, too,” Gibbs said. “However, it’s not feasible for where we’re at.”
Trustees approved a $2,200 deal with Rally Commercial Appraisers to have the building appraised. After that, the village intends to sell the property. State law allows the village to sell the facility for at least 80% of its appraised value, according to Johnson. It also could be sold by sealed bid.
Among other items, the board did not reconsider a vote last month to not renew a contract with Spoon River Landscape of Dahinda for village-park lawn and garden maintenance. The current deal expires Dec. 31. Village employees are to assume landscaping responsibilities.
Luanne Smith of the Williamsfield Parks Association requested the reconsideration. She said the association has planted more than 250 species of trees and other items.
“We believe Spoon River Landscaping’s expertise and longstanding familiarity with the arboretum’s unique needs makes them exceptionally qualified,” Smith said.
Trustee Lucas Leckrone indicated he saw no reason to revisit the earlier decision. Spoon River Landscape has been charging the village $32 an hour for labor, though owner Andy Fritz has donated his labor for nearly 20 years of his contract with the village.
“I think we can run it for a year and if it goes in the wrong direction, we’ve got to put it out for bid, anyway,” Leckrone said. “We just can’t give it to them.”
During public comment, a sometimes-contentious discussion took place among Johnson, trustees and owners of a new house on Cottonwood Court.
Rich and Michael Goodin suggested the village has been antagonizing them regarding whether vinyl-siding installation on the house has been completed. Incompletion of the house in a timely manner violates a neighborhood covenant, according to the village.
The village attorney sent the Goodins a letter about the siding, based on public complaints.
“Why are you harassing your citizens?” said Rich Goodin, who told the board the siding has been installed. “When you send out letters, that’s the nuclear option.”
Johnson said the village had called and emailed the Goodins but received no response. Given that, the village was within its rights to send the letter, according to Gibbs.
“The last thing we want to do is bug anybody about building a house in this town, because nobody builds a house in this town,” he said.
Village representatives intend to inspect the house from the public right of way to confirm Rich Goodin’s siding claim. Rich Goodin said he won’t allow them on the property.
