Illinois nursing home board OKs food pact, despite concerns

URBANA, Ill.—Members of the Champaign County Nursing Home board of directors approved an estimated $731,460 dietary services contract with a private company Monday night, but only after a quarrelsome exchange between two board members.

A contract with Healthcare Services Group of Pennsylvania, which began work at the publicly operated nursing home about three weeks ago, was approved after board members Don Lyn and Josh Hartke, who also is a Democratic county board member from Champaign, clashed over the quality of food service at the home.

Earlier in Monday's meeting, David Laker, who has a family member at the nursing home, told board members that he believes the food service has worsened in recent weeks.