Hospital board discusses updates

The Adams County Hospital District No. 2 unanimously approved the operating budgets for 2016 for East Adams Rural Healthcare and the East Adams Care Center during the meeting on Nov. 19.

For EARH, the commissioners approved an operating budget for $8,037,542. The total operating budget for EACC is $2,635,926.

Throughout the meeting, the commissioners discussed the ongoing construction project at the hospital. CEO/CFO Gary Bostrom said Leone and Keeble, the general contractor on the project, believes Phase One of the project will reach substantial completion by Jan. 29, but administrators can move into the building on Jan. 21.

With the completion of the first phase, the administration offices will move back into the hospital and the new clinic rooms can be utilized. The first phase also includes the completion of the meeting room, basement, storage rooms and elevator.

Along with the projects completed in Phase One is the installation of the fire suppression system in the remodeled and new portion of the building. This eliminates the ongoing fire watch from the updated portion of the building, but the remainder of the hospital remains under 24-hour fire watch until the project is complete.

The helicopter landing zone on the roof of the hospital will not be utilized until the spring time, and Bostrom estimated it would be in April.

This week, the construction projects included adding dry wall, installing windows and trim, completing steel work on the helipad, and beginning the asbestos abatement process in the IT room.

Bostrom also updated the commissioners about providing Leone and Keeble with a 44-day extension on the project. After water damage cost the hospital district around $25,500, Bostrom approached Leone and Keeble about having them pay for the damage or not be charged for a portion of the project.

The 44-day extension has been agreed upon because of the projects Leone and Keeble had to complete that were not originally in the plan. These projects include the change in the elevator specifications, addition of the basement, removal of walls and installation of steel.

With the 44-day extension, Bostrom said the district will not pay an additional amount for the work during this time, estimated at over $59,000. Because the district is allowing the extension on the project, Leone and Keeble will not be penalized with litigation fees because of missing their intended completion date.

Bostrom provided the commissioners with the income statement for EACC in the month of May. This is the first month the district has received complete financials for, and the insurance submittals are beginning to be processed to have consistent income for the facility.

In the month of May, EACC had a positive income of $1,017,356. For the total, $1 million is attributed to the value of the donation of the facility to the district, Bostrom explained, putting the collected income for the month at $17,356.

The commissioners also briefly discussed the upcoming EMS Levy; a six-year levy providing funds for Emergency Services. Bostrom recommended continuing the levy at the same rate and running the resolution on the ballot next year, as the levy expires in 2016.