Nursing home decision could come today

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Locals are hoping a site in southern Cleveland will be chosen today for a veterans nursing home.

State Veterans Affairs Commissioner John Keys and members of the State Veterans Home Board toured three possible sites Wednesday, including one on Westland Drive that local supporters have called the preferred alternative.

The board is scheduled to vote today to recommend a site for a 140-bed, $21 million nursing home. Construction will have to wait until money is available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, state officials said.

But naming a site and getting the local matching money in place mean that when VA funding is available, the state can move quickly said Bob Tuke, Veterans Home Board chairman.

The VA will pay 65 percent of the cost, leaving 35 percent for state and local sources. Cleveland and Bradley County have pledged $2 million each and an anonymous donor has pledged $3 million. The Westland Drive site was donated, as well.

"That's very significant. It means no state funding requirement," Mr. Tuke said. "It also means the state Veterans Home Board would not have to issue tax-exempt debt. That makes the site all the more favorable for a home."

The other locations are on county-owned property on Minnis Road and on Parker Street at the former American Uniform Co.

Mr. Keys said Knoxville got a new nursing home three years ago and homes in Bradley, Montgomery and Shelby counties are "in the works."

"We are just waiting on federal funding," Mr. Keys said.

He said a VA study shows Tennessee needs 1,100 nursing home beds for veterans but has only 420.