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McCourt, Council: NCCH is senior center pick
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
The Willcox City Council voted unanimously Monday night to let city staff "continue discussions with Northern Cochise Community Hospital" on putting the city's senior center there.
Councilman Chris Donahue, who is employed by the hospital, abstained from voting on the issue.
"I think the community would say, 'It's about time," said Councilman Woody Johnson.
"I think this is going to be the fastest way to get a senior center into this community," said Vice Mayor Larry Schultz.
"It sounds like a great opportunity."
A fact sheet distributed by CEO Harley Smith said there would be 2,300 square feet for the senior center on the hospital campus.
It would include one large room for a surround-sound television area; as well as a large area for games, bingo and other activities.
The building would be located across the street from the rear of the nursing home, on the corner next to Sulphur Springs Medical Center, with a large parking area.
It will have accessibility for the disabled and the restrooms are ADA approved.
The hospital will provide power, electric, water, and any utilities needed; as well as environmental services and maintenance needed for the building.
It will also "work to get volunteers to help with the activities and will provide other personnel as needed to run an efficient operation."
The hospital also plans to provide "a reasonably priced lunch five days a week."
"The hospital, nursing home, and hospital board believe this is an important community need," the sheet said.
"We would appreciate the opportunity to serve the seniors of Willcox and the surrounding communities."
Responding to a question from Councilman Jimmy Norris, Smith said it is a building the hospital is going to lease.
The city had previously received word that it had received a grant for $95,000, with a local matching requirement of 20 percent, or $23,750, for a total $118,750, to build and equip a senior center
Since then, the city has been exploring ways to use the grant to develop an appropriate structure and programming. Stakeholder meetings, as well as a July 6 Town Hall, have been held.
At that Town Hall, City Manager Pat McCourt told the audience there are "six or seven options on the table."
They include a location in the Southeast Arizona Food Bank building, an addition built onto the Elsie S. Hogan Library, and a location on the NCCH campus; as well as a new building proposed by Advanced Community Solutions.
"While I see advantages and disadvantages in each of the options, I feel the best overall advantage will be gained by partnering with the NCCH," McCourt said in his Aug. 27 letter to the council.
"This is a long-standing, secure community based organization," he said. "It is centrally located, provides a variety of other services to this same population and I believe offers the best opportunity for an ongoing program."
"The hospital will staff with a part-time paid position and supplement with volunteers from an existing program," said McCourt, adding that NCCH has a current transportation program and has applied for funding to expand it.
"The funding would be used to help defray the cost of a new free-standing structure built on the hospital campus, which would also be used for sleep studies," with no conflicting hours of use, he explained.
As to the option proposed by Advanced Community Solutions, McCourt said, "The proposal is contingent upon the rezoning of the property being completed as proposed."
Other suggestions included acquiring the old Border Patrol station on Downen Street; purchasing a building in downtown to help revitalize the area; or the old Willcox Rotary Club building on Arizona Avenue.
"It is unknown how long or how much money may be involved in the acquisition of the building," said McCourt, adding that it is also unknown "how much money may be left to remodel and equip the building."
"There is no ongoing program source," he said.
McCourt said the same comments could be made about the Rotary building or a building downtown.
At the Aug, 17 council meeting, McCourt had said the project was on hold until the city could get information from the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office on whether there would be limitations on the use of the monies on property not owned by the city.
Less than 10 days later, city staff learned that the money could be used on property not owned by the city.
While all monies have been budgeted, "the time of actual award and receipt of the federal monies is unknown at this time," he said.
Councilman Chris Donahue, who is employed by the hospital, abstained from voting on the issue.
"I think the community would say, 'It's about time," said Councilman Woody Johnson.
"I think this is going to be the fastest way to get a senior center into this community," said Vice Mayor Larry Schultz.
"It sounds like a great opportunity."
A fact sheet distributed by CEO Harley Smith said there would be 2,300 square feet for the senior center on the hospital campus.
It would include one large room for a surround-sound television area; as well as a large area for games, bingo and other activities.
The building would be located across the street from the rear of the nursing home, on the corner next to Sulphur Springs Medical Center, with a large parking area.
It will have accessibility for the disabled and the restrooms are ADA approved.
The hospital will provide power, electric, water, and any utilities needed; as well as environmental services and maintenance needed for the building.
It will also "work to get volunteers to help with the activities and will provide other personnel as needed to run an efficient operation."
The hospital also plans to provide "a reasonably priced lunch five days a week."
"The hospital, nursing home, and hospital board believe this is an important community need," the sheet said.
"We would appreciate the opportunity to serve the seniors of Willcox and the surrounding communities."
Responding to a question from Councilman Jimmy Norris, Smith said it is a building the hospital is going to lease.
The city had previously received word that it had received a grant for $95,000, with a local matching requirement of 20 percent, or $23,750, for a total $118,750, to build and equip a senior center
Since then, the city has been exploring ways to use the grant to develop an appropriate structure and programming. Stakeholder meetings, as well as a July 6 Town Hall, have been held.
At that Town Hall, City Manager Pat McCourt told the audience there are "six or seven options on the table."
They include a location in the Southeast Arizona Food Bank building, an addition built onto the Elsie S. Hogan Library, and a location on the NCCH campus; as well as a new building proposed by Advanced Community Solutions.
"While I see advantages and disadvantages in each of the options, I feel the best overall advantage will be gained by partnering with the NCCH," McCourt said in his Aug. 27 letter to the council.
"This is a long-standing, secure community based organization," he said. "It is centrally located, provides a variety of other services to this same population and I believe offers the best opportunity for an ongoing program."
"The hospital will staff with a part-time paid position and supplement with volunteers from an existing program," said McCourt, adding that NCCH has a current transportation program and has applied for funding to expand it.
"The funding would be used to help defray the cost of a new free-standing structure built on the hospital campus, which would also be used for sleep studies," with no conflicting hours of use, he explained.
As to the option proposed by Advanced Community Solutions, McCourt said, "The proposal is contingent upon the rezoning of the property being completed as proposed."
Other suggestions included acquiring the old Border Patrol station on Downen Street; purchasing a building in downtown to help revitalize the area; or the old Willcox Rotary Club building on Arizona Avenue.
"It is unknown how long or how much money may be involved in the acquisition of the building," said McCourt, adding that it is also unknown "how much money may be left to remodel and equip the building."
"There is no ongoing program source," he said.
McCourt said the same comments could be made about the Rotary building or a building downtown.
At the Aug, 17 council meeting, McCourt had said the project was on hold until the city could get information from the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office on whether there would be limitations on the use of the monies on property not owned by the city.
Less than 10 days later, city staff learned that the money could be used on property not owned by the city.
While all monies have been budgeted, "the time of actual award and receipt of the federal monies is unknown at this time," he said.
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