By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
No interested citizens showed up for the TEFRA hearing
held by county commissioners prior to their adopting a
resolution allowing a non-profit hospital to use the county
clout to obtain no-interest bonds.
The bonds will be used to purchase needed modern
equipment for the new facility.
"We have advertised and have given people the opportunity
to respond," said Brent Davis, representing the hospital
board. "We have complied with all the requirements of the
federal government through the Tax Equity Act."
As of 10 a.m. Monday, no written responses had been sent
to the county clerk. The deadline for those comments has
been advertised as 10 a.m. on Nov. 6.
"The county will not be obligated, in any way, for
repayment of these bonds," said Wm. Boyd Howarth, commission
chair. "The documents have been carefully worded so that the
taxpayers of the county will not have to worry about
repayment in case of default."
Davis said the new Central Valley Hospital was nearly
ready for use. "The floor covering is being laid this
week."
The building should be turned over to the Central Valley
Medical Center board on Dec. 4. Furniture and equipment will
be moved in after that date.
The mechanical systems will need to operate for one month
before the hospital can accept patients, he said. That gives
the systems an opportunity to fail and be repaired before
occupancy.
The new building will have 52,000 square feet and will
have an on-site clinic. The present clinic will be vacated,
at least for awhile. However, said Davis, plans are to
locate some medical services at that location in the near
future.
"The clinic will be accessed through the east side
entrance," said Davis. "The main entrance and the emergency
entrance will both be located on the south of the
building."
Tentative plans, said Davis, are to have an open house on
Saturday, Dec. 16, with a dedication ceremony the day
before, on Friday.
Joseph Bernini, as the commissioner who sits on the
hospital board, abstained from voting on the resolution.
Howarth and Steele voted affirmatively.
Howarth was authorized, by the motion, to sign the
resolution allowing the bonds.
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