 According to Tom Green, spokesman for the state agency, the IHFP
board voted to extend the certificate of need for one year. The
action "paves the way for them to open if and when DHS gets the
go-ahead to do something there," he said.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich helped secure $7 million to build the new
cottages for mentally disabled. The construction was completed last
year.
The cottages were built on the fringes of the campus, with the
expectation to offer former Lincoln Developmental Center residents
first choice to return to Lincoln.
Progress stalled when operational funding was cut from the
state's 2006-2007 fiscal year budget. No funds have been allocated
from this year's budget either.
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 A year ago state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, attempted to
acquire funding to put the new cottages, and some of the older
buildings present that served Lincoln Development Center, to use as
an Alzheimer's unit and other facilities for veterans. That measure
failed to gain acceptance.
The 102-acre state-owned campus with paved roads, four new
cottages and about a dozen high-quality buildings remains empty and
motionless, except for security and groundskeepers, waiting.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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