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Dr. Ronald P. Rogers CHIROPRACTOR Support for your body's natural healing capabilities 270-384-5554 Click here for details 
  
Columbia Gas Dept. GAS LEAK or GAS SMELL Contact Numbers 24 hrs/ 365 days 270-384-2006 or 9-1-1 Call before you dig 
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Commentary: Will Fiscal Court give leadership to save WRH? If history provides insight, the outlook is bleak, writer notes. After the people had spoken and in 1949. when a 20 bed hospital with two thirds of the cost borne by the Federal Government under the Hill-Burton Act, it was stopped cold in its tracks, Enter the Fiscal Court, slouching toward infamy, ready and willing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It would take 9 more years before Adair Memorial Hospital became a reality. The QUESTION TODAY: Will today's Fiscal Court man up and meet the challenge and save Westlake Regional Hospital from a sale or closure, either of which will be the worst disaster in the 200 year history of the county? We know they can. And we think they will. -EW By Jim Garner "Maybe the one set of people, the Adair Fiscal Court (Magistrates & CJE) who can provide the leadership to save the hospital for the community, will do so, Now." If history is any indicator, this will occur immediately after icicles form in Southern climes. In the fall of 1949, in the most overwhelming bipartisan vote ever cast in Adair County, voters approved a $120,000 hospital bond by an 85%-15% margin. Under the Hill-Burton Act then in effect, the federal government would shoulder one-third of the construction cost. Shortly thereafter, the Act was amended such that the government would bear two-thirds of the cost, and in June, 1950, the Adair County News received notification by wire from Washington, D.C. the hospital had been approved: "Division of Hospital Facilities Public Health Service has just notified us that the new 20 bed General Hospital sponsored by Adair County has been approved for construction at a total cost of $274,070. Federal Government's part $180,200." This effectively lowered Adair County's part to $90,000, equivalent to an additional 83 cents tax per $1,000 of appraised property value. Enter the Fiscal Court, slouching toward infamy, ready and willing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. By the end of June, a site had been selected and purchased; the architectural plans were 85% complete; and "Earl Otis, of Otis & Grimes, Louisville, architects, and members of the hospital board met with the Fiscal Court Friday [June 30th] morning and asked for authorization to complete the plans and advertise for bids to build the hospital at once." At that point, the Adair Fiscal Court folded like a cheap tent in a high wind and couldn't so much as bring itself to vote on the issue in this meeting -- but promised to do so in July. Come July, however, the decision was postponed until August, at which time Azro Hadley made an impassioned speech in favor of the hospital and M. Rey Yarberry spoke against it. After an aborted attempt to delay voting yet again, the Fiscal Court sat on its collective hands that first day of August, 1950, and pissed away the hospital. Two magistrates voted in favor, one voted against, and four gutless wonders abstained. Come September, a second vote resulted in a 4-3 decision "to defer action on the project at present..." - Jim Garner This story was posted on 2012-08-02 13:05:15
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Commentary:
What a great idea!: WRH, the best value hospital in the nation? Personal commentary: Georgina Roy got it right! B. Armitage Sounds Off - on technology lag, lack of leadership Victoria Pike: Keep phones ringing until someone listens RRW: Could God all mighty hisself get industry here? Too much emotionalism, politics in hospital situation, writer says Hospital one of most critical issues community may ever face Reader salutes LWC/Somerset students for generosity News of murder of Sarah B. Hart revives rules lived by in city Professor Dan Phillips comments on big city crime in rural setting View even more articles in topic Commentary |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
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