New Hospital

Good morning.
The cop notes are posted.
The city passed the measure approving the sale of bonds for a new hospital at its meeting last night. It was a huge step. They also gave final approval to the budget for 2010.
A new hospital for Arkansas City is all but a reality since it passed through three meetings last night at city hall.
The city commission approved the sale of the bonds - $24 million worth - at its meeting Monday. Earlier in the day the measure was approved by the public building commission and the hospital board.
The sale of bonds must be given final approval August 18, and the bonds can be sold at that time.
The new hospital has been in the works for 13 years, but this is as close as they have been. They had a deal, and actually broke ground, in 2006 with a company called CoVista, but that deal eventually fell through.
The current strategy calls for the current hospital to build a new medical center north of Arkansas City.
The bonds will initially be sold at 6.9 percent. City Manager Steve Archer said local people may buy the bonds. If anyone is interested they should contact Archer.
The payments will range from $1.4 million to $1.8 million per year. Hospital officials said they are confident they can make the payments.
They said they should be able to make the payments even without the sales tax approved by voters last year, but that money will help them in case there is a need.
See the whole story here