If a new Allen County Hospital is proposed, 10 to 12 acres would be needed, members of an advisory committee decided Monday afternoon. “And 20 acres would be better,” Don Copley said.
No specific sites were mentioned.
Mary Ann Arnott, committee chairman, urged caution in the talks.
“We don’t want to be premature with (talk about) land and give an indication that the decision already had been made,” to build new, rather than remodel the current facility, she said.
By mid-summer Allen County commissioners hope that information gathered by the committee, extensive surveys conducted by Health Facilities Group, Wichita, and comments gleaned from focus groups will be sufficient for them to make that decision.
Commissioners hope to have a funding mechanism for either decision — a sales tax is most likely — on the Aug. 3 primary election ballot.
DISCUSSION Monday centered on criteria for a new location, as well as requirements for a remodel.
Sites likely won’t be far from Iola and should already be served by the full range of utilities, members said. Highway access — especially proximity to the Highways 54 and 169 intersection — cost, environmental issues and pedestrian accessibility were mentioned. Appearance of the area is important, David Toland said, adding that cleaning up a blighted area could kill two birds with one stone.
The hospital today has a little less than 4 1/2 acres housing structures and parking lots. If ACH were expanded, considerations would include displacing residential neighbors to acquire adjacent land.
How to stage a remodel and expansion concurrent with serving patients would also be a concern.
JOYCE Heismeyer, ACH administrator, said a confidentiality agreement with Health Corporation of America, which manages the hospital, had been completed and “information is flowing to Health Facilities Group.”
The committee will meet again Monday at 3 p.m. in the courthouse assembly room to hear Bob Talkington and Gary Parker discuss the hospital’s foundation, a private fund-raising group. Also, Toland will have information about utilities availability and extensions and how Iola might be involved. All meetings are open to the public.
