BLOOMINGTON — The old, unused Fairview Sanitarium building in north Normal is getting a new focus as a result of a partnership between McLean County and Chestnut Health Services.
In August, the McLean County Board approved an agreement with Chestnut to build a new federally qualified health center at the Fairview building site. The county will pay to raze the old building and build the new one. Chestnut will lease the building for the new health center.
County officials recently recommended Farnsworth Group as the architect for the estimated $4.5 million project that will include 12 exam/procedure rooms; space for primary care and obstetrics providers; separate waiting areas for patients seeking medical and psychiatry treatment; three meeting rooms; 14 rooms for behavioral health-related services; an on-site lab and pharmacy; and training space.
The source of funding for the project has not been determined but one option is to issue a bond through the Public Building Commission. The bond would be paid off through revenue from the lease agreement. Hannah Eisner, assistant county administrator, said there also is a chance for some federal money.
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The Fairview building housed the McLean County Health Department until a few years ago and the Regional Office of Education until 2013. Both have moved to 200 W. Front St. and the Fairview building has been vacant.Â
A timeline for the new project has not been determined. Chestnut Family Health Center currently is at 720 W. Chestnut St., Bloomington. As a federally qualified health center, it provides services to people on Medicaid and Medicare, the uninsured and private-pay patients.
The county board also made some significant changes to the animal control center after animal rights groups challenged many of the center's practices. Oversight of the center was shifted from the Health Department to the county administrator's office in August.
Since that time, Animal Control has started a Facebook page listing animals up for adoption and added some evening and Saturday hours — both things urged by animal groups.  In addition, the center is working with animal groups to offer low-cost vaccination clinics.
Meanwhile, another proposed change to county government — eliminating an elected auditor — was rejected by voters in November. The county board voted 12-6 in June to place the referendum on the ballot. In 2013, voters approved a referendum to eliminate an elected recorder and merge those duties with the county clerk's office.
The county board also appointed a new coroner last year after Beth Kimmerling, the coroner since 2000, retired in November. Kathleen Davis was appointed to fill the position.
