Lancaster Manor doesn't have a for sale sign in its front yard just yet, but in a 4-1 vote Thursday Lancaster County commissioners have advanced the motion to begin negotiations to sell the nursing home.

"It was a difficult decision for the board," said Lancaster County Commissioner Bernie Heier. "It was a very emotional decision for all of us. Our number one concern is for the residents of Lancaster Manor."

County Commissioner Bernie Heier supports the board's decision because he said the county is not prepared to properly manage it.

"We don't have any commissioners who are qualified to run a nursing home," said Heier. "We don't really know a lot about the business."

Meanwhile, commissioner Larry Hudkins voted against the measure.

"I was disappointed the board rejected my motion to hire a fully licensed, experienced, qualified administrator for Lancaster Manor," said Hudkins. "I think clearly after the hearing the other day, that was the wishes of the people that came and testified for us."

"When you have loved ones in the facility and you know there's a governmental board or a governmental entity in charge ultimately there's a sense of security that if things aren't run right you can access that board, you can apply pressure, there is an open forum. You don't necessarily have that in private corporations," Hudkins said.

Lancaster County's Chief Administrative Officer Kerry Eagan says a potential purchaser is interested in buying Lancaster Manor, and Thursday's vote allows the county to move forward in the process.

Eagan said a committee including himself, Purchasing Agent Vince Mejer, Budget and Fiscal Officer Dennis Meyer, and Chief Deputy County Attorney Mike Thew will meet with the unnamed party to discuss a possible purchase.

Eagan said the committee will develop a list of conditions for a sale with the county board. He said those conditions would be in place to guarantee that Lancaster Manor would continue to serve the county's low-income elderly population.

Some of those conditions could include requiring a certain number of spots for residents on Medicaid, and requiring a purchaser to continue to serve existing residents.

Eagan said the committee will meet with the board July 9th to determine those conditions. Then the committee will meet with the potential purchaser to discuss those conditions before any further steps toward selling the manor will be taken.

A study committee previously recommended selling Lancaster Manor due to recent financial difficulties. Others believe appointing a new administrator could lead to financial viability for the manor. The board rejected that option at Thursday's meeting.

A number of people testified in favor of county ownership of Lancaster Manor at a public hearing on the issue Tuesday.

Commissioners said they are unsure who will manage the facility in the future, but that a private, unnamed company is interested in purchasing it.

"We would like to know the financial stability, number one," said Heier. "Number two we would certainly like to know their credibility in the business. And we have some structure that we would like negotiated and discussed in this process."

Negotiations, which commissioners said include making sure low income Medicaid patients are taken care of as long as they need.

Watch 10/11 News to hear what Lancaster County Commissioners said about the vote, and check KOLNKGIN.COM for updates.