Champaign County to Receive $1.2 Million in Settlement with Firm over Nursing Home Construction Woes

An architectural and engineering firm will pay Champaign County over a million dollars to settle a lawsuit over problems that delayed the opening of the county nursing home. The Champaign County Board approved the settlement Thursday night.

In exchange for the county dropping its lawsuit, the Farnsworth Group will pay $1,225,000 --- including $800,000 to cover the cost of adding booster fans to an underpowered heating-ventilation and air conditioning system at the new nursing home building. The settlement also covers the operating costs for the booster fans, and expenses created by the 1-year delay in opening the nursing home. The Farnsworth Group does not admit any mistakes, and several items it's paying for are listed as "alleged" in the settlement. But the payment satisfies County Board Finance Committee Chairman Brendan McGinty.

"We made back what we considered to be owed to us," says McGinty. "It replenishes our General Corporate Fund at this point, which is dangerously low, as it has been all year. And we get to move on from this particular matter."

The next matter is Champaign County's complaint against general contractor Otto Baum Company, over the use of lumber in the nursing home's construction that was later found to be moldy, requiring expensive cleaning. That case is scheduled to go into binding arbitration next month.