Hospital race attracts seven candidates
By Tim Gallagher | Posted: Monday, October 20, 2008
DENISON, Iowa -- The race to be a Crawford County Hospital trustee has attracted lots of interest this year. Seven people have filed papers for three open seats.
The big issue: Whether to build a new $35 million hospital campus at the edge of Denison.
Steve Vary of Arion, Iowa, is the lone incumbent to file. Vary is seeking another five-year term on the board. He supports building a new hospital campus and has been joined in the race by Kim Ingerslev and Virgil Johnson, both Denison residents who wish to see a new facility constructed.
Vary has argued that a hospital structure might better serve Crawford county for the next several decades. A 2007 estimate to renovate the current 57-year-old hospital at 20th and Broadway in Denison came to $23 million. A construction project on-site, Vary has said, might also disrupt services.
Vary has said the board began discussing this issue 3 1/2 years ago.
Incumbents Marcia Losh and Nyle Gruhn are not seeking election.
Three others who have filed for a seat on the board have expressed doubt about the expansion plan. Thomas Eller of Denison has argued against building plans during board meetings throughout the past year. Eller said he's joined in this issue by candidates Virgie Deiber-Henningsen and Carol Swanson, both of Denison.
"The hospital is going to take on a burden that we do not believe it can handle. I would like to see the hospital emphasize technology instead of bricks," Eller said.
The lone remaining candidate is Amber Mahrt of Denison.
The hospital project will be the topic of talk today as the Denison City Council considers a zoning change for the prospective new campus site during a 5 p.m. public hearing. The board of trustees in June voted to exercise an option to purchase about 40 acres of land for a new hospital near the intersection of Highways 59 and 141. The land cost $10,000 per acre.
The big issue: Whether to build a new $35 million hospital campus at the edge of Denison.
Steve Vary of Arion, Iowa, is the lone incumbent to file. Vary is seeking another five-year term on the board. He supports building a new hospital campus and has been joined in the race by Kim Ingerslev and Virgil Johnson, both Denison residents who wish to see a new facility constructed.
Vary has argued that a hospital structure might better serve Crawford county for the next several decades. A 2007 estimate to renovate the current 57-year-old hospital at 20th and Broadway in Denison came to $23 million. A construction project on-site, Vary has said, might also disrupt services.
Vary has said the board began discussing this issue 3 1/2 years ago.
Incumbents Marcia Losh and Nyle Gruhn are not seeking election.
Three others who have filed for a seat on the board have expressed doubt about the expansion plan. Thomas Eller of Denison has argued against building plans during board meetings throughout the past year. Eller said he's joined in this issue by candidates Virgie Deiber-Henningsen and Carol Swanson, both of Denison.
"The hospital is going to take on a burden that we do not believe it can handle. I would like to see the hospital emphasize technology instead of bricks," Eller said.
The lone remaining candidate is Amber Mahrt of Denison.
The hospital project will be the topic of talk today as the Denison City Council considers a zoning change for the prospective new campus site during a 5 p.m. public hearing. The board of trustees in June voted to exercise an option to purchase about 40 acres of land for a new hospital near the intersection of Highways 59 and 141. The land cost $10,000 per acre.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
