BUTLER TWP — Butler County hopes to sell the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on April 1.

County solicitor Mike English on Thursday stressed the target date could change.

“Discussions are ongoing,” English said at the Sunnyview board meeting.

The county is negotiating with Investment 360 of Lakewood, N.J., to buy the 220-bed nursing home off Morton Avenue.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier agreed the April date was derived from reviewing other privatizations.

“We based that on how long other counties closed,” McCarrier said in an interview.

He said various issues need to be resolved before Sunnyview is sold.

The county won’t disclose what the company’s offer is. All eight firms that initially sent proposals to the county were required to offer no less than $13.5 million.

In an appraisal conducted by Integra Realty Resources, Sunnyview’s value is set at $17.5 million.

McCarrier said the appraisal was close to the amounts offered by the original eight prospective buyers.

“I’m very pleased with the appraisal that came in,” he said.

The companies had the opportunity to submit second offers, some of which were higher than the appraisal.

“Some of them upped their offers,” McCarrier said.

County officials maintain Sunnyview’s annual losses make it cost-prohibitive to own.

The nursing home is estimated to lose $992,000 for 2013. Sunnyview administrator Sue Murray said during the meeting the final number isn’t available yet because the 2013 books are not closed.

Sunnyview is projected to lose more than $1 million for 2014. The county would subsidize $838,452 of the total deficit.

Although Commissioner Jim Eckstein opposes a sale, he favors Investment 360 as a buyer.

Eckstein said the company wants a smooth transition.

“They made that point very clear,” he said.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton agreed, saying the company would meet with workers as soon as a deal is finalized.

Eckstein said in an interview he was not planning on filing a court injunction to force his attendance at the negotiations because information is being forwarded to him.

At a prior commissioners meeting, he previously vowed to seek an injunction.

While the pending sale looms, the county still must keep Sunnyview operating.

The commissioners, serving as the Sunnyview board of governors, on Thursday hired HRC Consulting of Valencia for billing services. The firm will be paid $85 an hour.

Murray expects the firm to do Sunnyview work one day each week.

The firm is needed to help process state Medical Assistance and federal Medicare billing following the departure of Sunnyview fiscal director Bill Kepple, who left last month for a new job.

The county previously hired the New Castle firm of Carbis Walker to provide accounting services for Sunnyview on an interim basis for $125 to $200 an hour, depending on the service.