Luzerne County Government

April 20, 2010

Bids eyed for Valley Crest Nursing Home property

Minimum bids set at the fair market value of $4.7 million and are due by April 29.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Bids to buy Luzerne County’s former Valley Crest Nursing Home property in Plains Township are due April 29.

Minimum bids are set at the fair market value of $4.7 million.

Proposals must include a bid bond or secure check totaling 10 percent of the bid. The county would keep that deposit if the awarded bidder fails or refuses to enter into a contract.

The county is free to sell the 62.35-acre property because the nursing home operator, Dresher, Pa.-based Complete HealthCare, built and opened a new facility nearby.

The facility, which was built in the 1950s and ’60s, is being sold in “as-is” condition, according to the county’s public advertisement. County officials say the building is structurally sound but outdated.

Commissioners opted to handle the sale in-house, rather than hiring an outside broker on commission. The property will be sold to the highest bidder who meets conditions of contracting and bid documents.

The law requires the county to seek the appraised value. If there are no offers at that amount, a prospective buyer would have to obtain an appraisal and then work with the county appraiser on a compromise, county officials have said.

County officials expect interest from institutional operations. The county can’t sell the property to another nursing home operation because of a no-compete clause with Complete HealthCare.

Revenue from the sale has not been factored in the 2010 county budget. County officials have proposed using the money to pay down the county’s $466 million in outstanding debt.

Commissioners had turned over the nursing home license to Complete HealthCare in 2006 because the operation was draining millions from the county’s general fund annually. The county had a nursing home to ensure the indigent had care, but Complete HealthCare accepted that responsibility.

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