The morning’s storms gave way to a glorious afternoon to celebrate the ground-breaking of a new Allen County Hospital Monday.
About 150 gathered at the site on North Kentucky Street to listen to an hour’s worth of congratulations to the various committees that saw the effort through to replacing the 60-year-old hospital.
In fall 2010 voters overwhelmingly approved a $30 million bond issue to finance the hospital project.
“We continue to believe the hospital will not go onto the tax rolls,” said Harry Lee, chairman of hospital trustees.
Plans are for hospital revenues and government reimbursements to continue to be sound enough to finance the bonds, said Jim Gilpin, a banker with Community National Bank and chairman of Uniting for Excellence, the fundraising arm for the new hospital.
Gilpin said $2 million of the budget is allotted for equipment, “but another $3.8 million more will be needed the next few years to properly equip the new facility.
“In addition, an endowment target of $1 million has been set to be sure resources are available in the future for hospital equipment needs.”
Gilpin said said nearly $700,000 has been raised during the “quiet phase” of fundraising for the hospital.
“Our dream is that every family in the county will have an opportunity to help with a gift to equip or endow the new hospital.
“Regardless of the size of the gift, it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to enhance an institution that is an essential part of the life of our county.”
Lee said every resident has “two opportunities” to contribute to the hospital.
First is by supporting the hospital by one’s thoughts, words and deeds.
“We have an excellent facility and medical professionals and it’s only going to get better,” he said.
Secondly, hospital employees and administrators need to have as their goal that care at the hospital continues to be “effective, safe and compassionate.”
AS SPECIAL guest, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said the new hospital will give “an economic punch” to the county.
