By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the Jan. 22 meeting of the Guthrie County Hospital Board of Trustees, the trustees reviewed plans for funding the hospital’s improvement project.
CEO Chris Stipe summarized the funding plan.
“The USDA portion would be $37 million, that’s the cost of construction,” Stipe said. “Then there’s the separate loan of about $5 million that the banks are going to pay in, and then there’s our equity of about $4.8 million. So, that’s how you get to the $46 million.”
Although bids on the project are in, the formal USDA approval has not yet been received, so bids were not considered for acceptance at this time. The trustees scheduled a special meeting for Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. to consider taking action on bids.
Chief Human Resources Officer Mary Anderson provided a summary of hiring and personnel status.
“We have seven positions open now,” Anderson said. “And, we also have an offer out to a dietician. We should find out tomorrow if she is going to accept. So, we’re currently holding 153 employees, and our retention rate remains at 88.7%.”
Stipe shared information regarding the pursuit of a countywide EMS plan.
“The county is putting together another EMS board,” Stipe said. “Mary Jane Carothers will sit on that board.”
Stipe added that he would recommend Chief Nursing Officer Mandy Schiefert as a possibility to serve on the EMS ad hoc committee.
Foundation Director Dennis Flanery shared information on the annual Handbags and Bingo event, which is set for April 10. He said this year’s theme will be “Pajama Party.”
The next regular meeting of the trustees is set for Thursday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. The public is welcome.