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New Clinic Given County Funds
Commission Allocates $140,000 For Medical Clinic In Mound City
By Corey Preston, Coreypreston@miconews.com
A grass roots effort to build a new health clinic in Mound City received a big boost Monday, as the Linn County Commission approved a payment of $140,000 to support the project.
The county funding of the project would come from roughly $375,000 in general fund money the county had once raised for the now-defunct county-wide hospital district.
Wes Coffel, speaking for a group of Mound City residents and business owners seeking to build the new clinic, said the county’s contribution would allow the group to move forward seeking donations from local businesses to try to build a new facility within the next two years.
The group has already lobbied Olathe Medical Center, which would operate the clinic, to up its contribution from $60,000 to $100,000, Coffel said.
With the county’s contribution and roughly $50,000 already raised for the project, the group is getting close to the estimated $350,000 to $400,000 price tag of a new building.
“We’re at the point where we need a commitment from you guys because we’re ready to get moving,” Coffel said.
The commission had discussed earlier this year using a portion of its hospital funds to help build a new Mound City clinic, but had resisted making a firm commitment due to a desire to allocate the then $430,000 equally throughout the county. The county spent $55,000 from the hospital funds recently to purchase land for a new clinic in Pleasanton.
Commissioner Herb Pemberton noted that $140,000 is approximately one-third of the original amount in the account, and he said he was comfortable with the allocation.
“It’s not exactly equal, but it’s close,” Pemberton said. “This is something that’s necessary, that you guys have got to have.”
Pleasanton Director of Operations Tim Staton attended the meeting and said he doubted the city would be overly concerned about “our fair share.” Staton said the city would likely submit a request for a portion of the remaining hospital funds to help with its new clinic, but that Pleasanton wouldn’t quibble over which community received the most.
“I think it sounds like a good deal ... by all means, I’d encourage you to make the funds available,” Staton said of the Mound City project.
The county’s contribution will be funneled into the Linn County Community Foundation and designated for the Mound City Medical Building Fund.
Once a building is completed — Coffel said the committee has received numerous land donation offers and is considering locations — it would initially be owned by the Linn County Community Foundation, which is a not-for-profit organization that was already in place and could immediately accept tax-deductible donations.
However, another not-for-profit organization will be set up specifically for the clinic, Coffel noted, and either that organization could own the building and exercise the lease with Olathe Medical Center or the Mound City area could consider setting up its own hospital district to take over ownership.
Coffel said the group working on the clinic is committed to building it through donations, so that, if and when a hospital district is a possibility, residents won’t have to worry about tax increases.
“We wouldn’t want a hospital district for tax purposes,” Coffel said.
Coffel said a number of donations have already been made, along with offerings for donated land and an offer to donate all fill dirt needed for the project.
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The county funding of the project would come from roughly $375,000 in general fund money the county had once raised for the now-defunct county-wide hospital district.
Wes Coffel, speaking for a group of Mound City residents and business owners seeking to build the new clinic, said the county’s contribution would allow the group to move forward seeking donations from local businesses to try to build a new facility within the next two years.
The group has already lobbied Olathe Medical Center, which would operate the clinic, to up its contribution from $60,000 to $100,000, Coffel said.
With the county’s contribution and roughly $50,000 already raised for the project, the group is getting close to the estimated $350,000 to $400,000 price tag of a new building.
“We’re at the point where we need a commitment from you guys because we’re ready to get moving,” Coffel said.
The commission had discussed earlier this year using a portion of its hospital funds to help build a new Mound City clinic, but had resisted making a firm commitment due to a desire to allocate the then $430,000 equally throughout the county. The county spent $55,000 from the hospital funds recently to purchase land for a new clinic in Pleasanton.
Commissioner Herb Pemberton noted that $140,000 is approximately one-third of the original amount in the account, and he said he was comfortable with the allocation.
“It’s not exactly equal, but it’s close,” Pemberton said. “This is something that’s necessary, that you guys have got to have.”
Pleasanton Director of Operations Tim Staton attended the meeting and said he doubted the city would be overly concerned about “our fair share.” Staton said the city would likely submit a request for a portion of the remaining hospital funds to help with its new clinic, but that Pleasanton wouldn’t quibble over which community received the most.
“I think it sounds like a good deal ... by all means, I’d encourage you to make the funds available,” Staton said of the Mound City project.
The county’s contribution will be funneled into the Linn County Community Foundation and designated for the Mound City Medical Building Fund.
Once a building is completed — Coffel said the committee has received numerous land donation offers and is considering locations — it would initially be owned by the Linn County Community Foundation, which is a not-for-profit organization that was already in place and could immediately accept tax-deductible donations.
However, another not-for-profit organization will be set up specifically for the clinic, Coffel noted, and either that organization could own the building and exercise the lease with Olathe Medical Center or the Mound City area could consider setting up its own hospital district to take over ownership.
Coffel said the group working on the clinic is committed to building it through donations, so that, if and when a hospital district is a possibility, residents won’t have to worry about tax increases.
“We wouldn’t want a hospital district for tax purposes,” Coffel said.
Coffel said a number of donations have already been made, along with offerings for donated land and an offer to donate all fill dirt needed for the project.