On a unanimous vote, members of the Hospital Facilities Commission this morning recommended to Allen County commissioners to pursue the building of a new hospital.
They should do so, posthaste.
The recommendation came from due diligence by the facilities commission, a group of area citizens recruited by county commissioners to thoroughly research the issue. The commission worked tirelessly to do their level best and should be thanked at every opportunity for their dedication to the effort.
Of course, now the real work begins — selling the idea.
And that starts with talking about tomorrow. And where we want to be. Because — face it — a whole lot of people are going to jump ship if this town, this county, doesn’t do something big to change course.
Allegiance can only go so far. It doesn’t pay the bills. It doesn’t bring new industry to town. It doesn’t show we’re trying.
Investing in a new hospital does all three. It will help attract possible industries, which will keep our people em-ployed, and it speaks volumes about our faith in our future.
Most of us want to stay here and would love our children to feel the same way. But it’s a hard sell if we lack the initiative to replace one of the most vital components to our area that is way past its prime.
In bits and pieces we’ve begun on a path that makes us stand out among other communities.
Humboldt has done it best with its investments in a new community field house, swimming pool, walking trail, river park and most recently its new outdoor exercise equipment. Still to come are a new senior center and senior housing de-velopment on the north end of town.
Iola has the federal government to thank for most of its recent upgrades due to the flood of 2007. The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened its pockets to redo our swimming pool, stadium, recreation building and fair building.
That said, Iola also has shown initiative in its commitment toward the new housing project north of town, the extension of the Prairie Spirit Trail, and the Vision Iola project that hopefully will spruce up our downtown and other areas.
Moran and LaHarpe have jumped in with community enhancements. LaHarpe’s acquisition of its former elementary school makes a dandy community center. And though it’s not a concrete “thing,” Moran’s devotion to area children with bus service to Iola’s swimming pool sends a strong message of its priorities.
WHILE ALL these improvements are commendable, they still aren’t the building blocks of a community, which are its schools and its industries.
The health care industry is one of the fastest growing segments in the U.S. economy. We are a culture that works very hard and spends a lot of money seeing that our citizens have the latest in health care. That kind of service is competitive, and as we know, Cha-nute, Fort Scott and Parsons all are eating our share of the market pie. A result is that their communities are more stable and more attractive to newcomers.
Allen County can be a viable contender only if it’s on par with its competition. A new hospital will put us a step ahead.
— Susan Lynn
