Murray Construction will manage the construction of a new Allen County Hospital, trustees decided Tuesday evening.
The Overland Park firm won out over JE Dunn and Hutton Construction, both based in Wichita.
Trustees deliberated over the selection after hearing presentations from representatives of each firm.
Murray was also the firm that studied the existing hospital and designed mockups of a proposed hospital for the Master Plan Report developed last summer.
The 60,000-square-foot hospital will take about 15 months to build, if land desired for the site can be acquired in a timely fashion, said Chuck Wells, an adviser to trustees.
Groundbreaking is expected in fall, said Steve Lewallen of HFG. “October is going to happen pretty darn quick if land is not available,” he said. At that point, “It won’t take very much to push us into winter,” which would significantly delay the construction process.
Appraisers with Aul & Hatfield Appraisals, LC, of Lawrence, were to inspect the 11 parcels on Wednesday.
Once it can be verified the sites can be obtained, surveys of the land will be conducted.
IN A NOD to contributions to the hospital and the greater community by the late Robert V. Talkington, trustees and members of the hospital advisory board presented a resolution, which states:
“Be it Resolved, the Boards of Trustees of the Allen County Hospital hereby jointly acknowledge the dedication and accomplishments to the citizens of Allen County and the State of Kansas from the life of the late Senator Robert V. Talkington. Lifting up with the highest appreciation his service to his country in the United States Army, twenty years of representation to the Kansas House of Representatives and Senate, service to the Kansas Board of Regents, the Kansas Turnpike Authority, to Allen County Hospital as attorney, and his leadership in the formulation of the Allen County Health Care Foundation.
“May the strength of his leadership, quality of ideals, and capacity to bring people together be long remembered and serve as an example to the many people whose lives he has touched.”
BECAUSE so much hinges on land acquisition, trustees agreed to not meet until Jan. 25, by which time they hope the issue will have been resolved. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.
