Web posted
Thursday, March 30, 2006
County OK's hospital annex
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
Cowley County Commissioners this week approved the annexation of land by Arkansas City for a new hospital two and a half miles north of town.
The approval depends on Ark City's anticipated commitment to help with infrastructure costs, a county official said today.
The new hospital, CoVista Medical Center, would replace the South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center facility at 216 W. Birch Ave.
County approval of the proposed annexation is required by state law, County Administrator Leroy Alsup said. Any annexation of land not adjacent to a city must be examined by the county to ensure the annexation would not hinder or prevent property growth in the area.
The commission approved the measure 3-0. But commissioners listed four areas of concern:
* Paving and maintaining 242nd Road, the main access road west to the hospital from U.S. 77.
* Making what is now a "blind" intersection safe -- 242nd Road and 61st Road, where trees block the line of sight of motorists.
* Maintaining proper storm water management standards at the hospital site once it is developed. The concrete and asphalt that is laid there would generate more runoff water when it rains.
* How to pay the cost of resurfacing a 3.8-mile stretch of 61st Road leading to 242nd Road, from the north city limits to that intersection. Cowley County's total share in the joint county-state paving project would be $191,000, Alsup said.
A draft letter from the Arkansas City city manager indicated that city would address those four concerns, Alsup said.
Mayor Joel Hockenbury said the county's concerns would be addressed at the next city commission meeting at 7 p.m. next Tuesday at City Hall.
|
