LaSalle County nursing home committee forwards hire of Carrie Becker as administrator

The LaSalle County Nursing Home committee voted on March 9 to forward a resolution appointing Carrie Becker as the facility's administrator to the committee on appointment, legislation and rules, after a divided discussion over her past tenure and proposed pay.

Chair Kathy Bright announced the resolution recommending Becker's employment beginning March 30, 2026, with a listed first-year compensation of $140,000 and a contract period through November 2026. The committee then moved to send the resolution on for further consideration; the motion passed in roll call with one recorded opposition.

Why it matters: The administrator oversees daily operations and financial management at the county-run nursing home. Committee members pressed the hiring decision because Becker previously served as the home's administrator and, according to the chair, had faced billing and financial issues during her first appointment.

During the meeting, committee member Ron Blue questioned the choice, saying, "I don't know why we would hire her back when she quit on us twice and left us hanging," and argued that $140,000 was too high compared with the roughly $95,000 she earned two years earlier. Tina Bush asked whether Becker had been administrator "with some of the other issues that we had," and the chair acknowledged there had been concerns during Becker's prior tenure.

Bright and members of the subcommittee that interviewed candidates defended the recommendation. Bright said the subcommittee interviewed three applicants and found Becker had "learned a lot" in subsequent work and brought more management experience to the role. The committee noted some other candidates would have required higher compensation or different work arrangements; Bright said, "you get what you pay for." A committee member also summarized that the interim administrator (identified in the meeting as Ileana) applied but sought higher pay and remote work flexibility that made that candidate less suitable.

A county official responding to procedural questions clarified that appointed administrators are "at-will" employees under county policy, meaning either the employer or the employee can end the employment, and that reference checks are typically handled by county staff (Melissa, as named in the meeting).

The motion to forward the appointment passed on a roll-call vote. Committee members recorded on the roll call included votes of 'aye' from the majority and a single 'nay' from Ron Blue. The chair concluded the motion passed and then adjourned the meeting.

Next steps: The resolution will proceed to the committee on appointment, legislation and rules for further consideration; no final employment contract was executed at the March 9 meeting.