Mesker Park Zoo Gets 900K for Maintenance Needs
During the budget debate, two amendments were voted on regarding the funding of the penguin exhibit design project. The first amendment proposed would have completely defunded the design part of the project on the part of the city cutting $660,000 from the bottom line. The amendment failed.
Another amendment would have cut the same project by fifty percent. It also failed.
Mesker Park Zoo is at risk of losing its accreditation if maintenance projects are not completed. This would also mean the zoo would lose animals.
The council voted to give $900,000 to fund those maintenance needs.
City Council Cuts Non-Profit Funding by 50 Percent
There was concern on the part of local non-profit leadership more cuts would be coming their way. That fear was realized Monday night.
The city council voted 5 to 4 in favor of reducing funding to non-profits by fifty percent. That totals $121,000.
The amendment does not include two non-profits. Bridgelink is the lobbying group for the I-69 bridge. It will still get $11,000. The United Neighborhoods of Evansville will also not see cuts.
The Winnecke administration is not in favor of the cuts.
Many board members made it clear that in the future they do not want the city giving any funds to non-profits
Tri-State Nursing Home to be Assessed for Possible Violations
Those violations came down from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The Way-Fair Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fairfield has been assessed a Double-A violation of the Nursing Home Care Act.
That means there was a condition or occurrence that may have caused a resident’s death.
In this case, the violation resulted in a $50,000 fine against the facility.
The Department of Public Health says the facility did not report a change in condition for two residents who were tube-fed.
A pre-hearing is set for November 2nd.
