Hospital

longtimer · Veteran Member

Hospital

JakeTheHawk · Veteran Member

They wanna move the hospital? That's freaking the stupidest thing I've heard in a while.

It's in the perfect location! Not surrounded by traffic, but in almost the smack dab middle of town.

I would always be able to get their easily if I had a reason to be there.

And the whole backside kissing thing might be a losing bet on your end. Depending on WHO is driving and WHERE they're starting from may alter your thinking.

lagonda · Senior Member

"City leaders wonder why there is so much negativity in town. Maybe if they spent more time listening to the people instead of trying to convince the people they are wrong, the people would be less negative."

It's not their job to convince the people that they are wrong. Nor is it their job to decide what is best for the town. It is their job to represent the will of the people and roll up their sleeves and make it happen.

Nicely said, longtimer.

They need to go back to the planning table and come up with hospital alternatives.

motherof2 · Senior Member

I will vote no if the location is not changed.

mc · Member

If you can get from anywhere in town to the proposed site north of town quicker than you can get to the corner of 1st & Birch I'll kiss your backside in public.

Careful longtimer, read your words! you may have to pucker up! Think I'll call the fire chief and have him start at the north end fuel station. Pucker up!

And another thing I have not scene anything that makes me think the fire chief is trying to convince anyone of anything. Rumor is a group of citizens asked about response times, and the fire department was asked to provide them. But it is easy to tear people down when you don't have to prove anything!

motherof2 · Senior Member

I think this is a great opportunity for a compromise. I think most people are for a new hospital and not against a sales tax increase. However, they do not like the location chosen by the board. Unless there is some logical reason why this is the ONLY place it should or could be built, the hospital board may have to bend on this issue. It should never be "our way or the highway", or AC will never get anything accomplished. I think the city and hospital board should try to come up with a solution which the taxpayers could be happy with. Even if it means not getting everything exactly like they had planned.

North · Newbie

Here is a idea that I haven't seen mentioned from the AC Ding Dongs why not put it where they voted No for Lowe's on Skyline Dr.???already a stoplight their at that intersectionand right on the North End of town compaired to 2.5 miles North(STUPID IDEA).

motherof2 · Senior Member

I guess compromise is out the window? I guess it's take it or leave it. Nice.

Patrick · Senior Member

I can understand the confusion and concerns from people. There is a lot of misinformation and rumor that has built up over time. The hospital is having 8 meetings over the next 2 months to clear up as much as possible. There will still be concerns and issues, but with better information people will be able to make a more informed decision. Go to the meetings and ask questions. Find out if and why there is a difference.

Sept. 9^th at 9:30 am SCKRMC Auxiliary Meeting

Sept 22^nd at 6:30 pm Presbyterian Manor

Sept 25^th at 11:00 am Ark City Senior Center

Sept 30^th at 7:00 pm Brown Center/Wright Room

Oct 2^nd at 10:00 am Ambassadors Coffee

Oct 9^th at 7:00 pm Ark City Senior Center

Oct 22^nd at 12 Noon Soroptimist Meeting

Oct 30^th at 7:00 pm Brown Center/Booth outside of Economic Forum Meeting

No matter what each of us decides, we each can do better if we have all the information.

Patrick McDonald

longtimer · Veteran Member

Think I'll call the fire chief and have him start at the north end fuel station.

Now we're picking nits. OK, I would probably have to pucker up in that instance BUT probably 90% of Ark City's population lives farther from the proposed site (travel time) than they do the current location. My point is putting the hospital miles out of town is a disservice to most of Ark City's residents. The only advantage I see is it would be a bit cheaper. Cheap doesn't mean much when you're having a heart attack and it takes five minutes longer to get to the hospital.

hippie · Member

I am voteing no,, hospital says they are going to go ahead reguardless,, so let them do it, why must we pay for a regional hospital when a city hospital is being replaced,, think about that one

lagonda · Senior Member

If it goes in north of town and there is adjacent land available for retail development, expect companies like Taylor Drug and others to leave town to avoid the City taxes.

They need to make sure if the city pays to supply the utilities and land, that it is all incorporated into the city limits and brought into the city tax base.

Or maybe that is what it is all about. A tax dodge.

Patrick · Senior Member

lagonda wrote:

If it goes in north of town and there is adjacent land available for retail development, expect companies like Taylor Drug and others to leave town to avoid the City taxes.

They need to make sure if the city pays to supply the utilities and land, that it is all incorporated into the city limits and brought into the city tax base.

Or maybe that is what it is all about. A tax dodge.

One of the reasons that the Patterson property is preferred is because of the land associated with it. The hospital only needs about 21 of the 168 acres. There is plenty of land for further medical facilities as well as other types of business. All 168 acres have already been annexed. Costs of development are assessed to the property so future developers will share the cost of bringing out the utilities and other improvements. Selling or leasing the property will go towards paying off the new hospital. Any property that is sold will go onto the tax rolls and the owners would be responsible for paying property taxes.

It is possible that some of our local businesses might want to move out there, though it is much more likely new businesses will be drawn in. Almost every new hospital draws certain types of development (medical services, restaurant, motel, gas stations, etc....) of the service industry, but almost never the normal retail type. People coming to visit relatives, or using the hospital from out of town often need these services, but generally aren't looking to buy furniture or appliances.

If you get a chance to go to one of the meetings you will find that the hospital board has looked into a number of different aspects. Not just a new building but opportunities for growth and expansion. To bring in and use what they have been losing by sending people to other hospitals for services they cannot provide now. By offering more complete services that will bring people in from the local surrounding area that other local hospitals have had to send to Wichita and other larger hospitals.

The only way to find out all of these details is to go to the meetings and ask questions. The hospital has even offered to answer questions individually. All you have to do is contact them and make an appointment to someone will be available.

Patrick McDonald

abc123 · Veteran Member

Patrick has spoken, all bow.

lagonda · Senior Member

Is there enough land for a Lowes? It could be cheaper to them than what they proposed. Maybe they might be interested.

CALLUS · Veteran Member

Patrick it's nice to see you come back and to now you do not hold grudges. THank for the info. Do you know if we are just suppose to go to these metting and listen or is there going to be some diolog between the hospital board and the community. I would think without any diolog that they will be pushing on nomatyter what. Is that a reasonable deduction???

Patrick · Senior Member

CALLUS wrote:

Patrick it's nice to see you come back and to now you do not hold grudges. THank for the info. Do you know if we are just suppose to go to these metting and listen or is there going to be some diolog between the hospital board and the community. I would think without any diolog that they will be pushing on nomatyter what. Is that a reasonable deduction???

I guess that is up to you. I would listen first and gather all of the information i can, then ask questions on areas that wasn't explained to your satisfaction or that you might disagree with. At the 2 meetings I attended they asked for questions at the end and answered all of them very well.

I am sure their presentation is somewhat "canned" to provide all of the standard information so there won't be as many questions, but I'm sure there will be some areas where you will need more information, or that you have other information on. Bring it up, talk about it, find out the answers. If they don't have what you are looking for ask them who does and how to contact them. (I don't think any one person will have ALL of the answers at hand).

The hospital has also offered to meet with any groups that would like to hear the presentation or ask questions. Call the hospital and set up a time and date.

Patrick McDonald

JakeTheHawk · Veteran Member

Patrick wrote:

It is possible that some of our local businesses might want to move out there, though it is much more likely new businesses will be drawn in. Almost every new hospital draws certain types of development (medical services, restaurant, motel, gas stations, etc....) of the service industry, but almost never the normal retail type. People coming to visit relatives, or using the hospital from out of town often need these services, but generally aren't looking to buy furniture or appliances.

We DON'T need another m/hotel.

We already have two and they're hardly used.

Because think about it: Who wants to visit Ark City? And if they do, it's probably for family who they'll stay with.

And Gas Stations? As if we didn't have over 9000 of those lying around here...

There's two of the businesses that would be attracted by the moved hospital shot down. And you thought I was going off-topic ;D

It doesn't need moved anyways.

blah · Senior Member

I find it quite ironic that you ask who wants to visit Ark City on the same weekend as the car show, didn't think about that one much did we?

You can't claim that a community doesn't need more business. Who cares if those two motels aren't used, because they're paying people to work there. That's more money going into our economy, as would any additional businesses that opened.

JakeTheHawk · Veteran Member

blah wrote:

I find it quite ironic that you ask who wants to visit Ark City on the same weekend as the car show, didn't think about that one much did we?

You can't claim that a community doesn't need more business. Who cares if those two motels aren't used, because they're paying people to work there. That's more money going into our economy, as would any additional businesses that opened.

Car Show isn't that great really...

But aside from Car Show and Arkalalah, who wants to be here? Vacation wise that is.

blah · Senior Member

Car Show + Arkalalah= huge economic boost to many area business. I would go so far to argue that taking away these two events would drastically decrease their total revenue and lead to the closure of some businesses all together. You're right, AC isn't a vacation spot, but that's a completely obsolete point, who cares if people want to vacation here or not. It still doesn't negate the fact that additional business provided by the movement and improvement of the hospital would be economically beneficial to the area, a point which you have chosen to ignore.

lagonda · Senior Member

"Car Show isn't that great really..."

Dude, you need to get out more. For a town the size of Ark City, the car show is excellent.

blah · Senior Member

True, lagonda, I too thought the car show was pretty cool. It also makes me sad though, wishing I had to the money and skill to restore a car like that.

mom · Member

I was driving down radio lane the other day and there was a large plot of land for sale. Some across the road on the south side also. THere is land all around the AC clinic....I'm wonder if this land was considered for the new hospital. It would be next to the doctors, allow the citizens feel that the hospital part of the community.

JakeTheHawk · Veteran Member

I don't really need to get out more, I just get bored of the same thing year over year. Yeah, it's great for socializing and businesses, heck at Sonic we broke four of our records Saturday alone, but it's just some cool cars.

And yeah, I'd have entered my old Torino if it were in any shape to be looked at.

But I was mostly trying to just throw out stupid little reasons the hospital move would be bad. But really, there is no good reason to move it. Especially since its in the middle of the "housing area" and that's probably where a lot of the ambulances need to go. Not out by Wal-Mart and the Gas Station.

me2 · Veteran Member

Jake, you should of entered the show as unfinished at least, maybe that would of caught your excitement more. Any car can be entered, judging by some of the ones I saw that day and cruising summit Saturday night.

One last thing. I may get blasted by someone, but I really don't care for the newer cars that enter. Give me the oldies and the hotrods anyday!!

blah · Senior Member

I feel the same way me2, oh what I wouldn't do for a 71 Chevelle SS with a 402 in it....

JakeTheHawk · Veteran Member

My cars trashed, I wouldn't enter it.

Agreed, Oldies > Newbies, when it comes to cars

motherof2 · Senior Member

I agree. I would rather see the oldies.

Hope · Newbie

I like to visit http://acflipside.blogspot.com/ from time to time. I was instantly drawn to inconsistentsies I have heard in the meetings, in the press, and from our leaders mouths. I have sent this letter out to our city leaders.
Commissioner:
For your information...... we want to be heard. Anonymous, or with a name we have feelings and we are trying to express them. Many of us are terrified of what the economic future will hold for us. We are aware that more and more will be becoming unemployed (150 some thousand each month for the rest of this year) , homeless, and without a voice. It may look like it will be cheap to build now. But in the long run you lose the respect of the people who are struggling and that is the majority. When elected into office it was with the hope and faith that you would listen to all of us. We had no idea what economic changes were ahead, but we had faith in you. We are not all the big money people. The doctors will get their hospital no matter what, is that correct? How can that be? Is that even ethical? You are upset with the people because we don't want what you think will be good. I think a hospital would be great and so do most. Most believe though, that it should be built at the existing site. Why do the privileged few only, get a say on this? The infrastructure is there. What plans are you not telling us about as to that land? And if you don't have plans for it, how can it be good for the city to have an empty eyesore hospital in the heart of our city? And Most of us do not want it now! If I understood the finance director right.... because a few things have not been in place very long the financers will not finance the whole project. Why do you not push them to foot the bill when they can afford it like we have to. You want our town to look nice. I agree. You want us to have the nicest newest and best. Great so do most of us. But the reality is we cannot do that for our own children or ourselves anymore. Maybe in your circle the economic realities have not hit. Please hear the underlying message in the emails I am sending you. We do not want more ordinances, licenses, or taxes. We also want truth. The finance officer said " could build a $20 million facility without a sales tax, but would have to cut some services." And you said "Sales tax or property tax your choice". I heard our mayor say the same. Are we the citizens being pushed into a corner? It sounds like it. The corner is not made by just our city. But it would be nice if you would have a heart and drop this until there is something economically stable under us again. Following are messages from a blog site that are very informative as to what your constituents are thinking. Please read them through before you push for this further!