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This past April, residents of Pratt County were asked to vote on a 1-cent sales tax hike that would generate revenues to partially fund a $34 million addition to Pratt Regional Medical Center. The issue was defeated handily.
Lots of factors went into the negative vote. The economy is stagnant, sales taxes are already high, USD 382 had just built a $17 million school and the public felt the PRMC renovation (or addition) was being forced upon them. Despite the results, the challenges facing the hospital have not, and will not, go away.
Since that time, recognizing that something needs to get done, the Pratt County Commission formed the Hospital Evaluation Committee, a group of local citizens, and hired a consulting firm, Hoefer Wysocki Architects (HWA), to research, examine and propose a workable solution. Their roles are to prioritize the shortcomings of the hospital and create a plan that will address these needs. In other words, they are doing the legwork and the homework for us.
This Evaluation Committee is made up of our friends, neighbors and peers. They have nothing to gain personally from this venture other than the security of maintaining a top-notch medical facility run and operated by top-notch personnel and physicians. Although the 60-year old building looks great from a distance, if the PRMC facility remains unchanged, we as individuals and as a county will suffer in the long term. Imagine having to drive 30 to 80 miles for procedures because we chose not to reinvest in one of our county’s most valuable assets.
It may be determined that rebuilding the infrastructure – heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing – for fewer dollars may suffice for now. It may be determined that remodeling and renovation of particular sections of the facility will be enough. It may be determined that it needs to be totally rebuilt. A public meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of November 22 to hear the proposal from HWA. Make it a point to attend.
Somehow, some way the commissioners, the hospital board, the evaluation committee and the architects must work together to come up with a suitable plan. There may have to be some give and take from all entities involved — including the voting public. You aren’t doing this for you. You are doing it for this and the next generation of residents in south central Kansas.
The physical problems at the hospital won’t fix themselves. As voters, it is your responsibility to educate yourself so you can make the right decision when this issue comes up for vote once again.
Keith Lippoldt
This past April, residents of Pratt County were asked to vote on a 1-cent sales tax hike that would generate revenues to partially fund a $34 million addition to Pratt Regional Medical Center. The issue was defeated handily.
Lots of factors went into the negative vote. The economy is stagnant, sales taxes are already high, USD 382 had just built a $17 million school and the public felt the PRMC renovation (or addition) was being forced upon them. Despite the results, the challenges facing the hospital have not, and will not, go away.
Since that time, recognizing that something needs to get done, the Pratt County Commission formed the Hospital Evaluation Committee, a group of local citizens, and hired a consulting firm, Hoefer Wysocki Architects (HWA), to research, examine and propose a workable solution. Their roles are to prioritize the shortcomings of the hospital and create a plan that will address these needs. In other words, they are doing the legwork and the homework for us.
This Evaluation Committee is made up of our friends, neighbors and peers. They have nothing to gain personally from this venture other than the security of maintaining a top-notch medical facility run and operated by top-notch personnel and physicians. Although the 60-year old building looks great from a distance, if the PRMC facility remains unchanged, we as individuals and as a county will suffer in the long term. Imagine having to drive 30 to 80 miles for procedures because we chose not to reinvest in one of our county’s most valuable assets.
It may be determined that rebuilding the infrastructure – heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing – for fewer dollars may suffice for now. It may be determined that remodeling and renovation of particular sections of the facility will be enough. It may be determined that it needs to be totally rebuilt. A public meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of November 22 to hear the proposal from HWA. Make it a point to attend.
Somehow, some way the commissioners, the hospital board, the evaluation committee and the architects must work together to come up with a suitable plan. There may have to be some give and take from all entities involved — including the voting public. You aren’t doing this for you. You are doing it for this and the next generation of residents in south central Kansas.
The physical problems at the hospital won’t fix themselves. As voters, it is your responsibility to educate yourself so you can make the right decision when this issue comes up for vote once again.
Keith Lippoldt
