By JUDY SHERARD
Hays Daily News, Aug. 28, 2005
PLAINVILLE The final application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a new hospital for the Rooks County Health Center should be ready to submit by Oct. 1, said Ben Quinton, health center administrator and chief executive officer.
Quinton said the health center is unique because it isn't asking for increased tax support to build the new facility. Instead, operating money, using the HUD 242 program for mortgage insurance, will support the project.
Hospital officials were invited to submit the final application after an on-site visit from HUD officials in February.
A comprehensive plan of how to service the debt and a final construction budget will be included in the application. When the budget is complete, probably in about two weeks, square footage of the hospital will be decided.
A floor plan of the proposed new hospital is posted in the lobby of the current building, but the concept for the exterior of the structure isn't final yet.
We want it to be unique and stand out, he said.
Ideally, the hospital will be 55,000 square feet with 25 beds in private rooms, the highest number a hospital of its size is allowed to have.
If there's not enough money, we may have to build in two or three phases, Quinton said.
For instance, 18 or 19 beds could be built now with the remainder added later.
The new facility also could include a family birthing center with two private labor, delivery and postpartum units with plenty of room for the mother, baby and father to stay.
Quinton said officials really want to build both units initially, but they could be built separately.
A variety of other funding sources such as gifts from foundations and grants like one from the Economic Development Administration to help pay for site development could be utilized.
Hospital representatives also are meeting with county and community leaders to ask for their help preparing the site north of Plainville.
After the final application is submitted, the HUD review will take three to six months, and ground-breaking probably will be in 2007.
There have been some skeptical of the need for a new facility. They're welcome to arrange a personal tour with Quinton of the present facility to see what we have now and what we need, Quinton said. We've grown a great deal in the past five years.
Reporter Judy Sherard can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 138, or by e-mail at
jsherard@dailynews.net.