The Chautauqua County Home is being marketed for sale, however, those interested in submitting a proposal will have to meet several terms and conditions.

County Executive Greg Edwards told the OBSERVER those interested in potentially purchasing the County Home will have to meet terms and conditions to alleviate concerns expressed by residents. Edwards said Marcus Millichap – a consulting firm retained to market the County Home in December – is soliciting deals and requesting proposals from perspective buyers. He said the minimum offer will be $16 million or a $1.6 million-a-year lease. Also, seven terms and conditions based upon concerns expressed by county residents must be met by any potential buyer.

Conditions include:

• Only proposals that include continued operation of the County Home as a skilled-nursing facility for a period of 10 years will be considered.

• Current union employees shall be guaranteed offers of employment provided they file an application and pass a background check.

• The proposed buyer must include what protections or preferences would be provided with regard to jobs, salary levels and benefits for current employees in various positions, and for what periods of time.

• Proposers must include what their experience is and what they will offer regarding staff training, relationship with family members, resident activities, and enhancing resident and facility quality of life.

must first be given to county residents. The winning bidder must guarantee to meet or exceed that 80 percent of occupants must be county residents.

• Current residents remain in the facility as long as they wish.

• The county has a say in how the home is run in the future.

The successful buyer must be qualified to operate a skilled-nursing facility. This will be based on the proposer’s experience and financial statement. Buyers must submit proof of their ability to obtain all licenses and regulatory approvals necessary to operate the facility as it is currently being operated.

Edwards said the county would not have to select the highest bidder. Instead, county officials could select the proposal that meets the terms and conditions the best and offers a satisfying purchase price. If there are no proposals submitted that meet the requirements, the county has the right reject them all and resubmit the request.

The county executive said there has already been significant interest in the facility by potential purchasers. Proposals must be submitted by April 16.

Edwards said the county needs to sell the home because it is losing $10,773 a day, which is more than $3.9 million a year. He said the facility has its own fund balance to offset money being lost, but, by the end of the year, that money will be gone. The operating budget for the home is about $19 million a year.

”The fund balance will be exhausted by the end of the year,” he said. ”(Then) I’ll be asking (taxpayers) to ante up $4 million dollars so the County Home can continue to operate.”