CCMSD to apply for grant to fund hospital remodel

Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) will move ahead with a capital construction grant application for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding on the basis that you can’t turn down money that isn’t offered to you.

“We can’t decline money if we don’t apply for it,” said CEO Micki Lyons as she made the suggestion, informing the Board of Trustees that two types of grant are available and the capital construction option offers up to $10 million with identical matching funds required.

The deadline is coming up in August, so Lyons requested board permission to move ahead with the application.

“It has to be COVID-19 related, so infection control, patient safety and all those things,” she said. However, she confirmed that it is not necessary to specify project details down to individual nuts and bolts for the purpose of the application.

The project for which the money would be used is the proposed remodel of the county hospital in Sundance. Earlier this year, the board heard a presentation from Treanor HL architects that included four options to renovate or replace the building.

The options ranged from a phased overhaul of the current building within its existing shell at a potential cost of $23.6 to $26.9 million to an entirely new campus at a cost of $36 to $40.6 million (not including land purchases). At that time, the board preferred the alternatives that would rebuild the hospital where it currently stands in a series of phases.

At this time, said chairman Mark Erickson, there is $3 million in CCMSD’s construction fund.

“If we were to do the full and look at trying to finance $7 million, there are options through USDA for both grants and loans,” said Lyons.

Though the project does not need to be complete, the costs associated with the grant must be incurred by December, 2026, said Lyons, “So we have time in our phased approach to our remodel to get that going.”

The board was in support of the application. As stated by Trustee Ed Ray, “Unless I’m missing something, it seems kind of like a no-brainer.”

Lyons said another application will likely be put together for non-capital construction for certain infection control items in long-term care, such as a service cart for dietary services. Anything on this application must be justifiable in the treatment and control of an infectious disease, she said.

A motion was passed to approve moving forward with the application.