By GINA KINSLOW
GLASGOW — The future of Glasgow’s State Nursing Facility is in limbo due to a shortfall in state funding.
A masonry project was conducted on the facility in 2004 and revealed the building that houses the nursing home has some structural issues.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services requested bond authorization for a capital project to replace the nursing home during the previous legislative session.
“While we did not receive funding for the project, the General Assembly included language in the budget bill that directed the Cabinet to develop and submit a plan to the Legislative Research Commission on Dec. 1 related to the replacement of the Glasgow facility,” said Gwenda Bond, assist communications director for the Cabinet.
The Cabinet submitted the report, and Bond said the Cabinet’s recommendation is still to construct a replacement facility on the nursing home’s current grounds.
Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, said he spoke to Gov. Steve Beshear about the nursing home’s situation last week.
“The problem right now is there just isn’t any money,” Bell said.
He and other legislators are working to come up with a solution.
“We’re trying to work other angles to get some type of partnership with another state facility for training and education purposes, which might free up some money,” he said.
Bell fears possible cuts in the state education budget will kill that idea.
There has also been some talk of generating additional tax revenue that could possibly used to save the nursing home, he said.
Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg, confirmed that legislators have been discussing the project, but said, “there have been no discussions that I can make public at this time.
We have had lots of concerns expressed to us by citizens in Barren County regarding the ICF hospital and it is certainly an issue we are paying much attention to.”
Bell said he is perplexed as to why Oakwood, a Somerset nursing facility that has been cited for numerous violations over the last year, “is getting all the attention when our facility is impeccable with its treatment.”
The future of the nursing home is one among many projects the General Assembly will tackle when it reconvenes Tuesday.
