Yesterday I wrote about the case of the Rock Island nursing home where they did their Certificate of Need work in house. As I said then, it was perfectly reasonable to seek outside help for our project, the question is why should we have paid so much for it. Well, today's subject is Charles Foley.
Foley is not an attorney, but is an expert on the Certificate of Need process. Foley charges a flat fee, based on the complexity of the project. He quotes you the fee up front. DeKalb paid him about $30,000 for their CON about ten years ago. Monroe County is paying him about $35,000 for their current project. From what I've heard, his fees range from $25,000 to $50,000. We have paid $400,000, and the work has been bad, although Ms. Rietz insists that these attorneys are not "out to get us" and come "highly recocmmended".
Foley's name stood out because of his work on some public projects. But there is one other notable item when it comes to Foley. Our attorney's apparently relied on Foley's expertise in moving our own CON through the process. Here is a link to a portion of a memo from Neville Bilimoria to the County written just prior to our February 2004 hearing on our Certificate of Need. Here is a portion of what it says.
I spoke with Chuck about logistics also. He is going to be at the IHFPB meeting on some of his own projects outside of Champaign County's. We agreed that he would sit directly behind us and not be sworn in for the IHFPB meeting. He will be available if we need him to answer questions during the testimonial phase.
That's right. Champaign County paid $400,000 to "experts" who have to have a guy who makes $35,000 sitting behind them. That would be like paying me $5 million to coach the Illinois basketball team, but Bruce Weber sits behind me. Perhaps nothing else better demonstrates just how clueless this firm we hired was.
Oh, and the memo was given to me by a County Board member.
If the nursing home was a real business, people would be fired over stuff like this. But since it is taxpayer supported, we will just get to vote to see if we want to raise our subsidy level and continue to pay for lousy management.
Mr. Sheldon:
After you complete your investivgation of this matter, will be taking any of the following actions:
(a) making a presentation to the county board
(b) turning the information to the News-Gazette
(c) writing a guest commentary for the News-Gazette
???
Michael Fuerst
One thing that really disturbs me, and I have been seeing it at both, the county level,and some of it at the municipal level. It is that sleezy style of government we see in Chicago, and Cook County, the elected officials do what they want and do not feel any need to explain anything to us. they even get their backs up when we do try to find out, This of course is our own fault,,,,,we continue to accept 2nd and even 3rd best in people. Champaign County government has really fallen down the slope in so many ways,,, if this whole mess surrounding the nursing home is not enough for us to collectively say enough is enough, then we get what we pay for.
The news media reads IP and is aware of this issue. Not sure if they'll cover it. A guest commentary is an interesting idea. As to the Board, I may speak, but not this week. For the upcoming board meeting I plan to put together some info that would give the Board some idea as to what is going on.
One problem is that I don't have the resources to do the investigation that the media has. They can probably get a return phone call from Rietz. Rietz herself can fill in a lot of holes if she wants to. Right now she seems to be hunkering down in her bunker.
DeKalb paid him about $30,000 for their CON about ten years ago. Monroe County is paying him about $35,000 for their current project. From what I've heard, his fees range from $25,000 to $50,000. We have paid $400,000, and the work has been bad
Has the County paid $400,000 in legal fees for issues solely related to the Certificate of Need, or does that include issues related to the construction problems? If the latter, you're comparing apples and oranges, unless Foley is a miracle worker who can get incompetent and negligent contractors to refund money by simply asking them nicely. If the former--they've paid $400,000 to lawyers just to get a Certificate of Need--then their most pressing "Need" would seem to be better lawyers.
You also have the opportunity to vote in four new faces in district 5 and 7. These candidates including myself are running on a platform of accountability, especially at the nursing home. Its time for change and it is up to voters to make that happen.
Go get'm Corben!
the $400,000 is in Health Facilities related expenses. some of that was for the original certificate of need, some for alterations to the original, some for doing the final cost report, some for dealing with our potential fine. The original CON cost us about $120,000 which is still grossly overpriced from what I've learned in talking to experts in this field. There is an additional $200,000 in litigation costs.
More than one of our citizentry would be happy to see you and Weber trade jobs. Ralph Langenheim