By Heather McDonald

Portage County will look for interest in private partnerships to continue operating the Portage County Health Care Center (PCHCC), and at the same time officials are gathering information on a possible referendum next year.

“If going with a partnership is an option to explore opportunities, I can buy into that,” PCHCC committee member Bud Flood said. “But eventually the county has to decide if it wants to be in the business or not … if this gets it moving, then let’s do it.”

The HCC Committee members agreed Wednesday, July 19, to move forward with requests for partnerships (RFP)/request for interest to gauge what type and level of appeal there would be for private companies to assist in continuing operation of the county’s Health Care Center.

“If we’re going to be in the business of long-term care, we need to be something other than an enterprise, or (we need to) have a partner,” Chair Jerry Walters said.

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