Making Public what is public information—The story of a sewer grant and donations of Boone County land and money to a for- profit assisted living facility.

Since the beginning of January, I have been trying to understand what the county/city and other governmental  entities are doing in regards to the proposed assisted living facility for Boone County.  I ask the simple question who is doing what and what is each government unit contributing to the assisted living project and whether the assisted living facility is a profit or non-profit entity.

I asked my county board member, the chairman and former chairwomen of the county board, the health committee of the county board, nameless aldermen, the assistant county administrator, and county administrator.  Finally at the April 2 meeting the facts became aware.  Of course it was my fault all along, after all no one else is asking any questions [which officials do not know the answer].  “Ask the grant writer,  the subcommittee on Health…the Administrator”, I was told.

Now for the story—Back in 2006 the Boone County Board authorized the “gift” (my words) of 8 acres and approximately $110,000 in Maplecrest Trust Funds to the proposed assisted living project of the Kensington Group.  Kensington Group is a for profit corporation. It operates both the Maplecrest and Northwood Nursing Homes and pays real estate taxes at both properties. (many officials were unaware of the tax status of the corporation and the Maplecrest  real estate) As posted previously, Kensington is in a  legal action regarding tax assessments at Northwood since 2003.  If there is a grant for a sewer extension, if there are sufficient grants from the state, a sale of tax credits and possibly stimulus money, the project will begin.  It appears that things may fall in place and construction will begin the end of summer.

I stated “gift” of land.  Technically, that is  99 year land lease yet to be negotiated.   However the important part is known the lease payment will be $1.00 per year.