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CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. -- Chemung County legislators have agreed to explore their options when it comes to the county-run nursing facility.

Leaders are allowing investment group Marcus and Millichap Real Estate Investment Services to come in and study the cost-effectiveness of different options, including privatizing the facility, doing a public-private partnership with local hospitals or keep it running the way it is.

Dozens of employees and families who use the Chemung County Skilled Nursing Facility showed up Monday night to protest the plan. They presented a petition with about 3,200 signatures.

Employees don't want the facility to be privatized, fearing loss of aid and staff cuts, however, the county says this is just the beginning of a long process.

"This is the kind of service that they value paying their taxes for and that they want to retain this nursing home as a public home for those who need it now and in the future," said CSEA Communications Specialist Mark Kotzin.

"They will visit our facility, they will look at the financial condition of the facility and they'll put a package of information together to take out to a marketplace for vendors to take a look at so they can appropriately bid," said Deputy Chemung County Executive Mike Krusen.

The Chemung County Skilled Nursing Facility takes up anywhere from $1.7 to $2.5 million in the annual budget.