Despite 13 deaths since 2015 due to a Legionnaires' disease outbreak, the future of the Quincy Veterans Home looks bright, Gov. Bruce Rauner said during a recent press conference.
“We can never give up," Rauner said after applauding the veterans and staff during an impromptu media gathering at the veterans home. "We can never back down. We can never give in, and we can leave no stone unturned as we work to prevent any infections of any type at any time."
Rauner called the Quincy facility, where 13 deaths from the deadly disease have occurred since 2015, "home" before detailing how to better protect and preserve the facility. “Great strides” have been made against the scourge by officials following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendations to treat the water throughout the campus, switch out faucets and add new filters, he said.
Rauner said an intermediate and long-term plan is in place, which includes the purchase and upgrading of the adjacent Sycamore Nursing Home, and putting new modular homes and a completely separate water system on the Quincy grounds.
“Those two combinations are something we can get done in a matter of months rather than a few years,” said Rauner, who was accompanied by Senior Adviser Mike Hoffman, Quincy Mayor Kyle Moore, Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) and Rep. Randy Frese (R-Paloma).
Ever since U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked Rauner to come up with a better plan in January, lengthy committee hearings and press conferences have kept Quincy in the headlines.
Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) held a media gathering in February at the Union League Club of Chicago demanding Rauner react quickly, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report.
“Veterans and their families are getting sick and dying, governor,” Ives was quoted as sayin in the news report. “Get them out of there now.”
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has also called for action, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The paper reported the senator has said the Legionnaires' outbreak is “entirely unacceptable.”
Rauner said at his recent press conference that while immediate solutions are being implemented, the future of Quincy looks bright, with a state-of-the-art residence in the works.
“It is a super modern facility that will serve veterans here for the next 50 years,” Rauner said. “So, we will have a world-class system here with entirely new systems.”
He said both the development and procurement process will be streamlined as his administration works closely with the General Assembly to cut through unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape.
“We can’t let any more risk occur here,” Rauner said. “We are going to keep our veterans safe and healthy and make (it) the best veterans home in America.”
Alerts Sign-up