New Hospital More Than Big Dreams
By: Shelli Briery
Updated: March 19, 2007
A sales tax increase just passed in Howard County has residents there excited. The 1 cent increase means a better hospital for not only Howard County residents but its neighbors as well. Howard Memorial Hospital's current facility needs repairs, but the cost was more than rebuilding. The new building will be downsized to be more efficient. "We are shrinking the size of the hospital by about 20 percent. We are currently licensed for 25 beds, we are a critical access hospital so we have a whole lot of space not needed. We think we could make it a whole lot more efficient in the new facility and the opportunities to do some neat things by way of expansion," said hospital administrator, Brian Bickel. Plans to break ground are scheduled for this fall. Bickle hopes the new hospital will be up and operational in two years. The price tag? About 26 million dollars.
