By Sharon Salyer
Herald Writer
Representatives of Valley General Hospital kick off a series of six meetings in east Snohomish County tonight to update the public on a building project that would double the hospital’s size.
They’ll also talk about a Sept. 17 bond issue vote to fund the project. Although the exact amount of the bond issue has not yet been set, it’s now estimated at $42.5 million, said Mark Judy, the hospital’s administrator.
The exact amount of the 20-year bond issue is uncertain because hospital leaders are still trying to trim the project’s cost, he said.
But if it remains the same as now projected, the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $96.60 a year in additional property taxes to fund the project, beginning in 2004, he said. The annual amount taxpayers will pay would gradually decline over the years because of growth in the property tax base, Judy added.
The proposal would need a 60 percent "yes" vote from those voting in the election for passage.
The community meetings, which begin tonight at Cathcart Elementary School, will continue through May 23 with upcoming events in Snohomish, Gold Bar, Monroe, Sultan and Index.
They’re being held to give people an update on the four-story, 105,000-square-foot building project. For comparison, the current hospital is 110,800 square feet.
As now envisioned, it would be built just south of the hospital’s current entrance. It would include: Increasing the size of the hospital’s surgery space from three to six operating rooms; increasing in-patient beds from 25 to 34; adding more observation beds in the surgery and emergency rooms; and increasing the birthing unit from five rooms to as many as nine. Parking spaces would increase from 325 to 530 spaces.
While hospital officials are happy to take questions on the project, they’d like to hear from community members about what other services they’d like the hospital to provide too, Judy said.
Adding chemotherapy treatments has been high on the list, Judy said, so people living in east Snohomish County won’t have to travel to King County or Everett to get treatment, which is often scheduled three to four times a week.
You can call Herald Writer Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486
or send e-mail to salyer@heraldnet.com.
Here’s the list of community meetings being held in east Snohomish County to discuss expansion plans for Valley General Hospital in Monroe. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.
May 14: Cathcart Elementary School, 82011 188th St. SE, Snohomish.
May 15: Snohomish Fire District 4, 1525 Ave. D, Snohomish.
May 16: Gold Bar City Hall, 107 Fifth St., Gold Bar.
May 21: Valley General Hospital, 14701 179th Ave. SE, Monroe.
May 22: Sultan Community Center 319 Main St., Sultan.
May 23: Index Old Fire Hall, 507 Ave. A, Index.
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