By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Geary County Public Commission members adopted a resolution on Thursday approving the sub-lease of Geary Community Hospital to Stormont Vail, Flint Hills, LLC. Attorney Pete Rombold, said the lease will be consummated and closed at the end of the year." In the meantime we have the duty to make some emergency repairs to the facility, and today we approved an interlocal agreement which gives Stormont Vail and the Public Building Commission an opportunity to work together in identifying the most expeditious manner in making these repairs." Stormont Vail plans to assume oversight of the hospital on Jan. 1.
There was information revealed during the PBC meeting that Geary Community Hospital may run out of money in September. That could mean that the work on $1.7 million in planned emergency repairs may have to be delayed and then begin in late December, explained Rombold. "We still do not have sufficient funds to guarantee the continued operation of this hospital until the end of the year."
Rombold said," Our hope is that we'll be able to secure alternative sources of funding, that we will not have to use this money ($1.7 million ) that we would otherwise use to fix the hospital to operate the hospital. That would only be a remedy of last resort."
So far the City of Junction City has not agreed to contribute any funding to help operate Geary Community during the period between now and the end of the year when Stormont Vail assumes control under the lease. "There's the possibility that the Healthcare Foundation might be able to do some more, perhaps the County should be able to return to the budget and look for alternative sources of funding within Geary County's budget," said Rombold.
Rombold also noted that perhaps the U.S. Treasury will confirm that the use of federal American Recovery Program Act funds allocated to the City could be an appropriate use for the purpose of operating a hospital . "We're hoping for the best, "said Rombold.