Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

JPs To Make Final Decision On What Fills Vacant Hospital

At this time, the Nevada County Quorum Court's Hospital Committee has no recommendation for the county's governing body concerning the defunct Nevada County Hospital.

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown said the committee, along with himself and Chandler Russ, the executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, met last week with the two groups wanting to use the former hospital building.

Brown said no decision was made as to which group would be recommended to get use of the old facility. He said the committee will meet again later this week to decide.

It is expected a recommendation will be presented before the court at its regular monthly meeting Monday, April 9.

Russ echoed Brown's statement, adding the meeting was to let the full committee know what each group was offering and the plans they had.

One group wants to turn the old hospital into a rehabilitation center, while the other plans to convert it into a children's hospital.

Russ said everything is still on schedule for Monday night's meeting.

The two groups now know about one another and each met separately with the committee. One group met at 2 p.m., while the other was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. last week.

"It was more a formality than anything," Russ said. "We wanted to make sure the committee heard all the options."

Earlier, Russ said this was a unique opportunity for Prescott and Nevada County, having two groups seeking use of the same facility.

Both groups have said the negotiations have been completed and all that is lacking is a signature on a lease agreement.

This, however, is premature on both groups' part. Brown and Russ agree the deal is not done and more is needed than a signature on a lease.

Regardless of which group gets the facility, more jobs will be created in Prescott and Nevada County.

One area resident, Prissy Traczewitz, director of the Nevada County Day Service Center, has voiced her opinion on the matter.

She is urging the committee and court to select the Children's facility over the rehab unit because of the number of agencies providing rehabilitation services in the region.

She wrote there are several rehab service vendors, including Alliance Home Health, Hope Physical Therapy (Prescott office), Columbia Home Health, Southwest Arkansas Development Council Home Health, Nevada County Health Department Home Health, Beverly Health and Rehab, along with the new Hillcrest Nursing Home rehab unit.

She wrote the Day Service Center also provides rehab services for infants, children and adults.

Additionally, she wrote, St. Michael's Hospital has a state-of-the-art facility in Texarkana.

"All of these facilities," she wrote, "are in competition for clients in need of this service. Another entity would only serve to take business away from already existing local sources.

"I feel strongly the Children's facility meets a need that is national in scope and would be a facility that would much more likely remain and be a viable community resource in terms of jobs, stability of funding and longevity."

Another benefit from the children's facility, she wrote, would be the children there would be considered enrolled in the Prescott School District. This would help the school's funding situation.

"I am familiar with other private facilities in the state," she wrote, "such as Vera Lloyd Home in Monticello and Mill Creek in Fordyce that have had a positive influence on their areas and the area school districts."

She urged the committee and court to consider these factors when making their decisions.

The decision should be made by Monday night when the court meets.