There are many reasons for this decision, and it was one carefully weighed by the Hospital Board of Trustees. A total of Six Architecture Firms looked at Fillmore County’s existing facility this spring and submitted proposals as to the feasibility and cost of both renovation/expansion and replacement. Their findings concluded that the cost of building new was nearly equal to what it would cost to renovate and expand our current facility. When considering renovation, there are a few disruptions with operations to address: the inconvenience for patients and visitors, the site will remain land-locked with limited options for adapting to future changes and opportunities in rural healthcare, it will take a longer period to complete. The decision became clear, new construction provides the best value.

Should the voters of Fillmore County approve the project, the hospital has options to purchase private property on the north side of F Street between 18th street and Highway 81. In addition, the hospital is working with the city of Geneva on property the city owns in the same vicinity.

A number of factors were considered in choosing a site, including size, constructability, access to utilities, road access, visibility from the highway, and access to the facility for the region.

The 47,000-square-foot facility has an estimated construction cost of approximately $12.6 million. The Board of Trustees of Fillmore County Hospital established a total building project budget, including equipment, professional fees and services, financing costs, etc., at a maximum of $18 million.

Fillmore County Hospital is applying for a USDA Rural Development Loan for 70% of the cost of the project. The remaining 30% will be funded through the issuance of General Obligation Bonds. The ongoing revenues of the hospital are pledged as collateral for the debt.

Because the revenues of the hospital are the primary collateral pledged to the debt, we refer to this as a “NO TAX” General Obligation Bond. Examined forecasts by third party auditors and USDA application parameters indicate hospital revenues sufficient for this debt level. As the special election ballot indicates, should hospital revenues fall short, that portion of the debt may then be assigned to the property owners of Fillmore County.

No. The financial plan for the new facility indicates that the financing for this project will not require additional charges for services offered beyond its typical annual price increases.

The new facility has approximately 47,000 square feet. The current facility is approximately 38,000 square feet. Fillmore County is a critical access hospital with the maximum number of beds of 25. The new facility will reduce the number of acute care patient rooms to 14 with a capacity of 19 beds. The increase in square footage will most noticeably benefit Fillmore County Hospital’s outpatient services department, with increased space for our Specialty Clinics, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Radiology Department, Lab and expanded area for the Emergency Department.

The initial plan is for the Fillmore County Medical Services Clinic to remain at its existing location. However, the hospital has been designed for the potential addition of a Medical Office Building in the future.

The hospital will continue to be owned by Fillmore County at its new location.

The hospital is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees who are appointed by the Board of Commissioners of Fillmore County. The term for a trustee is six years. The current trustees are Ms.Annette Marget (Chairperson), Mr. Howard Johnson (Vice-Chairperson), Mr. Dick Nelson, Ms. Deb Hoarty, and Ms. Lucille Capek.

The hospital continues to explore options including those other communities have discovered in similar projects.