Clinic negotiations get outside help

Though little in the way of concrete information about the new clinic building in Hulett was offered at Friday’s meeting, the Crook County Medical Services District Board of Trustees heard that progress may be in the cards.

According to board chairman Mark Erickson, not much actual movement towards an agreement has taken place over the last month. However, an “effort in its very infancy” is beginning to take shape involving people “outside the foundation.”

This group, he said, is looking to assist the Crook County Medical Foundation in finding a solution for the new building that will suit both the foundation and the district.

“There are some individuals who are trying to work that,” Erickson said, stating that efforts to move forward will be made as soon as more information is available.

The district, he said, is still interested in occupying the new Red Bluffs Clinic if an agreement can be reached.

“As we’ve always said, we like new buildings and we like new equipment and we’d be more than happy to have one, but it has to work for all parties,” Erickson said.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing between the district and foundation for several months, with the sticking point being the eventual ownership of the new clinic building. While the district does not want to pay rental costs that will go towards repaying construction loans without ultimately receiving something for its investment, the foundation has been reluctant to make that commitment until the loans for the building are repaid.