PONTIAC - The uncertain future of Livingston Manor is affecting the number of people choosing the county-owned home for their loved ones.

Scott Gima, vice president of Management Performance Associates, said the census has dropped to 68 - about half of what the facility is licensed to hold.

Gima, whose company manages the facility, said a new marketing director has been working on recruiting more residents but without success.

"People are not going to be coming to Livingston Manor until this issue is resolved," he said. "There have been no inquiries at all. All of the legwork is for naught if the issue is not resolved. The public thinks it is going to close."

On Tuesday, members of the County Board will have a work session to discuss the home's future, which has been debated for about three years. The board may make a final decision in March.

No matter what the board decides - to spend $17 million or more to build a new home or to close the current one - the final decision must go before the state's Health Facilities Planning Board for approval. It could take up to two years for a closure to actually take place or even longer for a new home to be built.

In December, there were 77 people staying in the home, a 1960s-era facility south of Pontiac on Old Route 66. The facility is rated to have more than 120 beds.

Along with the lack of new admissions, Gima said, three families have moved their loved ones to other facilities to ensure they have a place if Livingston Manor is closed.

Barb Trainor of Pontiac said her mother's roommate was among those residents who have left, and she knows of at least three other families considering the same move.

She said the County Board should have made a decision months ago.

"People have a fear of Livingston Manor closing," she said. "It's extremely sad, and this should have been avoided."

Gima said the uncertain future also has prevented him from contracting with a long-term rehabilitation service. He said he fears companies will not want to do business with the home if they don't know its future.

Gima's company was hired to straighten out the financial situation for the home on the county's behalf. While he had hoped the home would stop borrowing money from the county, that hasn't happened yet.

"It will be tough to get the revenue up," Gima said.

Over the last five years, the county has lent more than $2.2 million to the home to cover operations and budget deficits.

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Manor meeting

What: Livingston County Board work session

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Livingston County Public Safety Complex basement