Hospital construction operates under direction of new foreman

As the construction at East Adams Rural Hospital continues to fall behind schedule, Leone Keeble, Inc. has brought in a new foreman to bring the project back on schedule. Superintendent John Stinson replaces Jacob Edlund as the foreman on the local project.

Apollo Solutions Group Business Unit Manager Mike Fuentes said the project would progress quicker after the change of foreman. Stinson became the onsite foreman on Nov. 4 and has already worked to resolve water issues onsite, as well as move the construction closer to being back on schedule.

The project is estimated at three weeks behind schedule, but Fuentes and Hospital District CEO/CFO Gary Bostrom agree two weeks of the delay are due to the elevator construction.

The contractors have been working to construct the elevator shaft and stairwell framing at the building, and the masonry work has been completed for the exterior. The roofing still needs to be installed before work can begin internally on the elevator and stairs.

In the week Stinson has been leading the project, issues are quickly being addressed and those working on the project are confident work will progress rapidly from here. Bostrom said with the ongoing leaking and water problems, the change in foreman is not a surprise and will be a positive change for the hospital project.

Fuentes said Apollo’s work has been going well, but the work has been stalled while the contractors catch up. Apollo is responsible for the energy efficiency and fire, life, safety projects during construction.

Bostrom said the Hospital District is still waiting for confirmation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the removal of a tree alongside the hospital. When FAA representatives were onsite, they verbally told Bostrom the tree is in the flight zone of the helicopter and it would need to be cut to 15 feet, which Bostrom advised would kill the tree.

If the FAA sends correspondence regarding the cutting of the tree, Bostrom and Fuentes agreed Apollo would complete the tree removal.

Bostrom is also working with Leone and Keeble to see if the company can complete the additional parking space in front of the current Administration Building. Though the administration, medical records and IT department staff are moving into the renovated portion of the hospital in January, the building will still be utilized by the district and parking issues have always been a concern.

The additional parking spaces would be added on Washington Street in front of the Administration Building. Bostrom said completing this during the ongoing construction project would reduce the concrete and asphalt cost, as opposed to having it completed later.