Hospital to break ground Dec. 4
By Anne Blankenship — Daily Freeman-Journal Staff WriterThe Hamilton Hospital Board of Trustees have set Thursday, Dec. 4 at 11:30 a.m. as the date and time for the ground breaking for the new hospital.
The board, meeting in regular session, gave staff the two-week time frame to ensure that invitations could be sent to area dignitaries and the public could be informed. Site preparation work and excavation was expected to begin in the next few days, weather permitting. The board awarded bids for the preliminary work, concrete and steel last week. McAninch Corporation was awarded the contract for the site grading, excavation and site demolition work. J&K Contracting received the contract for site utilities and Jensen Builders will provide the paving, concrete, pre-cast concrete and steel work.
In another matter related to the new building, the board conducted a public hearing on the issuance of revenue bonds Tuesday night. No written or oral objections were presented. The hospital plans to issue revenue bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $27.5 million to provide funds to pay the cost of constructing and equipping the new 86,000 sq. foot acute care hospital. Administrator Palmer Schneider reminded the board that the revenue bonds would be repaid solely from revenues generated by the hospital and not through taxation.
The board passed a resolution providing for the issuance of revenue bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $27.5 million and also the issuance of project notes to provide interim financing for a portion of the costs of the project and to pay the costs of issuance and other associated expenses relating to the bond issue. Schneider said the project notes would not exceed $10 million.
The annual hospital audit report was approved. Kevin Morey of BKD, the hospital's audit firm, presented the report to the board for review last month. He said the hospital had received an unqualified audit opinion and the auditors found the financial statements fairly represented the financial position of the hospital.
In other business, the board:
approved a capital purchase of an additional laprascope for surgery at a cost of $4,318.60
reviewed the quarterly management report from Peggy Roberts, quality manager
approved several accounts related to the building project as board designated funds.
