Walls are being erected on new HCHC addition

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

The mild weather this area has been experiencing so far this winter has been good news to construction crews working on Henry County Health Center?s new energy center. It was reported at the HCHC trustees meeting on Tuesday that crews have had minimal weather delays since they broke ground in early November, and the pre-cast concrete walls are currently being built.

Crews are hoping that the walls will be completed by Jan. 27, though the recent appearance of winter in the last week and a half have caused some slight delays, so this completion date is not guaranteed. Thursday, Jan. 12 was described as a total loss for being able to work, and although Tuesday was not the best weather-wise, crews were still out working.

The foundations for the building have been completed, except for a few minor areas, and site utilties have also progressed as far as they can be until the walls are completed.

Crews are hoping to have the building enclosed by Feb. 3.

The next step in the overall facility renovation project is outfitting the energy center with the new equipment.

Gardner reported to the board of trustees that the team working on the plans met last Tuesday and has been discussing what equipment needs to be in the building in order to meet the hospital?s needs for the next several years.

?The goal is to have design documents for your review and approval at the Feburary board meeting,? said Gardner. ?After that would be the time to sit down and determine what the time frame would be to get the construction documents and set a public hearing.?

The complete renovation project, in addition to constructing and outfitting the energy center, includes constructing a new surgical area and improving the outpatient area of the facility.

In other business, the board approved a resolution to donate $5,000 to the University of Iowa?s College of Public Health.

?The College of Public Health has built a new building to support its public mission of researching as well as growing the next new professionals to serve healthcare needs in our great state of Iowa,? explained Gardner.

Gardner said the administration was in support of the donation, as it could benefit HCHC in many different ways, such as through employees who seek their MHAs or MPHs at the college, or through resources on issues of disease outbreak, infectious disease or birth defects. It would also be beneficial in terms of public health.

?We are the public health entity. We provide those services,? said Gardner, noting how HCHC contracts with the board of health and board of supervisors to be a provider of public health in Henry County.

He also noted the value of the connections with the College of Public Health.

?We all know how dynamic public policy is right now,? said Gardner. ?I?d like to have the people we know or who have our thoughts and our beliefs in terms of rural healthcare right here in our state instead of another state. ?

Because of a question raised by Chair Bob Meyer, Gardner clarified that the University of Iowa College of Public Health is separate from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

?University of Iowa College of Public Health is with the University of Iowa, and the UIHC is its own entity,? said Gardner. He noted that although there might be some communication back and forth due to both being in the healthcare field, UIHC is a medical school college and the College of Public Health is a public health college.

Board of Trustee member Rich Garrels voted against the donation.