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A redefined Lincoln Developmental Center
taking shape
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[OCT. 17, 2003]
The LDC task force
continues to bring together information pertinent to the reopening
of a new, reformulated Lincoln Developmental Center. Task force
members broke into smaller focus groups near the end of this past
summer. Members were divided into groups in accordance with their
expertise or interests to gather and evaluate types of services that
could be offered and potential populations that might inhabit the
now vacant property.
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The task force has also
assessed the current facility and considered building small cottages
that support modern caretaking values to serve people with
developmental disabilities, as well as looking at other uses for the
campus.
A spokesman for the Illinois
Department of Human Services, Thomas Green, said the group's work
"will help ensure that the facility best serves the needs of persons
with disabilities."
This week's meeting resulted in
a consensus to reopen one residential building. The building will be
made available to former LDC residents.
The task force also determined
to construct four 10-bed homes for people with developmental
disabilities.
Research shows that the Lincoln
community is already saturated with independent living quarters for
the mentally handicapped. So the group has made inquiry to the city
council requesting feedback from them about the potential of
building five more four-bed homes (CILAs) in the community.
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Looking at what comes next,
Green said, "We need to address budget questions and legislative
questions. [At] the next meeting the task force is looking at the
legislation passed earlier this year to be sure their
recommendations fit into the legislation's intent. And they want to
find out if additional legislation is needed to proceed."
The current legislation
specifically calls for funding for building four 10-bed homes and
making renovations to the campus. The task force is considering
different size homes, with some even being off the campus. Anything
other than what has been agreed to might need legislative action.
The Logan County Regional
Planning and Zoning Board is being asked to respond to the
possibility of making the campus an enterprise zone.
Some other uses proposed for
the site include low-income housing and a dental clinic for people
with developmental disabilities.
The
final meeting is set for Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. It will be after that
meeting before anything is ready to submit for the governor's
approval.
[Jan
Youngquist] |
