published: Wednesday, August 06, 2008

County applies for grant to help new assisted living facility

By KEVIN J. SHUTT

kevin.shutt@newssun.com

SEBRING -- County commissioners approved a motion Tuesday to apply for a $750,000 federal grant to assist a proposed new assisted living facility.

The board agreed that, with baby boomers coming of social security age, there'll be a future need for more nursing homes.

However, two commissioners disagreed with spending taxpayer money to supplement a private business that would compete with already-existing and reportedly suffering like facilities.

Commissioner Andrew Jackson's dissent was philosophical whereas Commissioner Barbara Stewart objected by voting no on the motion, which passed 4-1.

"These facilities don't fill up fast," said Peter McKnight of Advance Developers.

Advance owns a parcel of about 18 acres on Schumacher Road in Sebring, on which McKnight is planning a 35,000 square feet facility to open in 18 months to two years.

"National demand is high for these services," according to the Community Development Block Grant prepared for the county by Guardian CRM at Advance's request.

Stewart objected, stating that two recently opened assisted living facilities are struggling to fill vacancies.

"The local assisted living facility market is extremely weak," she said. "They don't know when it's going to get stronger."

The CDBG funding would allow the county to build the necessary infrastructure that otherwise would be funded by the incoming development.

She pointed to a paragraph in the grant application that suggested, "if CDBG funds are not made available for the project, Highlands County will be unable to provide adequate sewer, access and utilities" for Advance's proposed facility.

Her focus was protecting the existing assisted living facilities, Stewart said.

Commissioner Don Bates said the county approved similar grants for two new similar facilities and Commissioner C. Guy Maxcy pointed out that all businesses are suffering.

He expressed concern that disapproval might mean not enough nursing homes when the economy rights itself.

"At what point do you stop protecting other businesses?" Maxcy asked.

Stewart said she raised her concerns only because of the federal taxpayer-funded grant.

"I understand fiscal responsibility starts at home," McKnight said. "But, we're concerned about receiving federal grant money that would go elsewhere?"

The deadline for 2007 grant money is Aug. 14, McKnight said, explaining that it would be reallocated if not sought by Highlands County.

The CDBG, though federal, is administered by Florida's Department of Community Affairs.

Libarary collection plan approved

In other county business, the board approved the libraries' participation in a Heartland Library Cooperative contract to use a collections company to recoup fines and fees for overdue and lost or damaged material.

An implementation date wasn't set, so there's a de facto "amnesty" period for people to get square away fines and fees.

Failure to do so could affect a patron's credit record once formal collections begin.

Also on Tuesday:

-- Board Chairman Edgar Stokes presented 18 firefighters and emergency medical technicians with their Fire Fighter 1 certificates.

-- The board removed two items from their agenda, a dedication of right of way for the Holness subdivision and a public hearing to approve text amendments to the county's land development regulations pertaining to zoning.

-- The board approved an interlocal agreement with The School Board of Highlands County for school concurrency.

-- The board approved budget amendments of about $40,000 for Highlands County Sheriff's Office for E-911 console upgrades; $13,000 for Sun 'N Lake playground equipment and $161,000 for Avon Park recreation improvements.