Commissioners to send $10 million bond for new hospital to August ballot

The Board of Commissioners of Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2 unanimously voted in favor of placing a general obligation bond on the upcoming ballot for the public to decide if the hospital should move forward with the construction of a new hospital in Ritzville.

The vote came during a special meeting of the board on Thursday, March 21, and in the absence of chairman Stacey Plummer, Jerry Snyder ran in the meeting. The final decision came after over an hour of public forum and discussion about whether to repair, remodel or replace the current hospital facility in Ritzville.

Since the public forum earlier in March, board members and CEO/CFO Gary Bostrom have been discussing the possibilities for the hospital with the residents’ opinions in mind. Bostrom explained the general feedback from the local communities has been positive, with the only negativity being aimed at what would become of the current hospital building if the board voted to build new and why this decision has taken so long to be made.

Commissioners discussed the need for a new hospital instead of repairing the current hospital, since the costs balance out at an estimated $10 million.

“My biggest concern is we’re going to ask the taxpayers to pay a ton of cash for this,” commissioner Kirk Danekas said. “I would hope that we can do something that we’re not in a position, once it’s built, that we have to go back to the public to keep it open on a yearly basis.”

The fellow commissioners and those in attendance shared the concern about the financial burden on the community.

“I don’t think that the city of Ritzville can afford a new hospital. I don’t think the Eastern Adams County taxpayers need that tax burden,” said Larry Koch. “This county, and this town, can’t afford this hospital. It’s not needed.”

The commissioners voiced concern about the taxes, but stated it is ultimately up to the residents of the hospital district to decide.

Commissioner Jerry Crossler stated it is the board’s responsibility to do their job and to complete it in the best way possible. The commissioners agreed that the best thing to do for the hospital and for the district is to construct a new hospital, instead of paying costly maintenance and updating costs on the current facility.

The motion made to “put the vote before the community to build a new hospital” was unanimously approved and applauded by the majority of those attending the special meeting.