LIBERTYVILLE TOWNSHIP -- Libertyville Township trustees joined a growing number of other Lake County governmental bodies in unanimously passing a resolution Thursday night urging continuing support for maintaining the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center at its current service and staffing levels.The action was in response to a recent Veterans Affairs consultants report suggesting that North Chicago's long term nursing care facilities be transferred to the Hines VA Medical Center in Maywood, and long-term psychiatric and substance abuse treatment be shifted to Lakeside VA Medical Center in downtown Chicago.
If carried out, veterans and medical personnel say the shift in services would virtually shut down the North Chicago VA facility, causing widespread unemployment and create a major void in providing medical services to Lake County's many aging veterans.
Critics say it would also have a detrimental impact on physician training at the affiliated Finch Chicago Medical School teaching facility in North Chicago.
Trustee Tom Lynch, in introducing the resolution on behalf of Libertyville VFW Post 741, said the proposal would be a major hardship on disabled veterans causing disruptions in medical treatment, requiring excessive travel, and creating family hardships.
The board agreed and urged township residents to voice their concerns over the proposal directly with VA officials and their congressional representatives.
Full details on the VA proposal are posted on the Internet at www.va.gov/cno/ or by contacting veterans organizations throughout the county.
Libertyville Mayor Duane Laska said the Libertyville Village Board is expected to address a similar resolution at its Oct. 26 meeting.
On Saturday at 1 p.m., the Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission and the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2107, will hold a "support rally" at the front entrance of the North Chicago VA Medical Center near the flagpole at Lewis and Buckley Roads.
The public is invited.
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