News Summary

URBANA — Ten employees of Wellington Nursing and Rehabilitation Center will lose their jobs in money-saving consolidation efforts to keep the facility running.

At the beginning of the year, commissioners hired George Hagan as the new administrator. They then tasked him with re-evaluating services, Commissioner Bob Corbett said.

Nine employees were informed Thursday and Friday, Feb. 21 and 22, of the job cuts, and the final position is expected to be cut Monday, Feb. 25, Hagan said.

In all, six full-time and four part-time employees will lose their jobs, he said.

The positions cut so far were receptionists and assistant activity employees, Hagan said.

Receptionist tasks were given to other administrative staff, and the activities director was retained to continue the service, he said.

"We know it's not going to be a popular choice, and we feel bad about it," Corbett said. "But, it's a way to make it so we can afford to keep it running and provide good services to the residents."

No cuts were made to the nursing staff, which Hagan called "critical and essential to the residents' well-being."

Hagan met Friday afternoon with residents concerned about loss of services. Many, he said, were very vocal, but most understood the decisions.

The commissioners planned to sell the nursing home to Van Wert-based Vancrest Ltd., which won a bid in August with a more than $3 million offer.

The company could not obtain an operating license from the Ohio Department of Health because the building did not have enough toilets to meet the department's standards.

The county has since contracted with Progressive Healthcare Systems of Urbana to run the facility for $18,000 a month.

The initial Jan. 2 closing date was extended to Feb. 28, or until 20 days after the home is granted an operating license, according to the Champaign County Prosecutor's Office.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0226 or nmorales@coxohio.com.