On January 16 at 10:00 am, the commission will meet with representatives of Arnett and Foster, a Charleston-area accounting firm. The company has been assisting the Boone Memorial Hospital board in preparing plans for a long-anticipated renovation of the facility.
Originally, administrators had a plan to remodel a number of sections of the hospital, add an improved emergency room and lab facilities as well as at least 25 additional patient rooms. The original plan was reported to cost between $20 and $25 million dollars.
After some intense public scrutiny, the board and administration staff have reportedly decided to drastically scale back BMH renovation plans. Unconfirmed reports seem to indicate that planners are now considering a phased option that includes beginning with a renovated and updated emergency room that could be completed at much less cost.
Representatives from Arnett and Foster will reportedly address these plans to commissioners in hopes of receiving their blessing in pursuing whatever funding route the firm recommends.
County Administrator Jim Gore told CVN the commission is not against improving the 40+ year old facility, but said “ the commissioners are prepared to give their blessing if they are convinced the project will stand on it’s own two feet financially.”
He continued, “There is no doubt that Boone County desperately needs Boone Memorial to continue and thrive, however, the commissioners are also rightly concerned about the board pursuing the best funding methods to make it happen. They don’t want to be a party to the hospital borrowing money it can never hope to repay.”
Gore said county commissioners hope the hospital staff will build what the facility and Boone County needs most to provide the best medical care for the funding available.
The meeting will be held in the commission offices, on the third floor of the courthouse annex, in the old Boone County Jail building, behind the courthouse. The meeting is open to the public and all interested parties are encouraged to attend.
In other commission news, Gore said the commission is currently setting their goals for 2007 projects. These include continued renovation to the Boone County Courthouse. Commission staff has been working to upgrade elevators, electrical service and to enhance fire safety in the decades old building.
He noted that workers are currently also redoing basement walls and ceiling, and have begun installing a state of the art fire detection system in the facility. Commissioners are also looking at plans to work with the Parks and Recreation Board to further improve the county’s public parks and swimming pool facilities.
During a January 2 re-organizational meeting, the commissioners elected Mickey Brown to his second term as Boone County Commission president. They also formally set commission meeting dates for the first and third Tuesday of every month, except in cases of emergency or holidays. The members set meetings for November at the first and fourth Tuesday due to the Thanksgiving holidays.
The commissioners also asked Boone County Public Service District administrator Fred Riggleman to study ways to increase water pressure to the Sparrows Creek road area near Madison. Commssioners are looking at ways to add more fire hydrants to the hollow and were advised that they need increased water pressure in order to accomplish it.
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