Allen County commissioners are ready to act if voters give the nod for a new hospital.
At Tuesday’s meeting commissioners discussed the responsibilities of a board of trustees to oversee the hospital, once it is freed from its contract with Hospital Corporation of America.
Trustees would oversee governing a new hospital, including selection of a chief executive officer and chief financial officer, who would make day-to-day management decisions. They also would weigh in heavily on whether a management company, such as HCA, would be involved.
“None of us (commissioners) want to be involved in management of the hospital,” Chairman Gary McIntosh said, a comment that got nods of approval from fellow commissioners Rob Francis and Dick Works. “That has been our intention all along.”
“We have 30 to 40 names,” of people who have expressed interest in serving as trustees, said Francis.
“We’re eager for more,” McIntosh said, encouraging those interested to contact any of the commissioners. “We want a good mix of people of all ages from throughout the county.”
Once commissioners have settled on seven prospects, they will interview each.
“This is something we take very seriously, just as those who are selected must, and we also want to impress on candidates that being a trustee will be a time-consuming job,” McIntosh said.
While commissioners have decided trustees will serve four-year terms, the initial seven will be split into four with four-year terms and three serving two years, so that rotation will occur every two years. Two-year terms will become four years with appointments after two years.
Commissioners said they would make appointments quickly if the sales tax referendum draws a positive vote Nov. 2.
“Maybe as early as Nov. 5,” said Works, when commissioners will gather in an adjourned session to canvass election results.
Commissioners said for the umpteenth time that under no circumstances would they authorize property tax money for a new hospital.
COMMISSIONERS said appraisal and environmental assessment of the preferred site for a new hospital, along east U.S. 54 between Citizens Bank, 1206 East St., and The Family Physicians Clinic, 1408 East St., would not be completed before the election.
The site is about seven acres. Another 12 to 13 acres are in tracts to the north.
Commissioners intend to have the land appraisal done by a firm from outside the county, although they said a local real estate agent might be enlisted as a liaison. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will do the environmental assessment, which likely won’t be completed until late November.
