By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly at a special meeting Tuesday is scheduled to discuss and provide direction on the possible sale of the old Sitka Community Hospital building to SEARHC.
The single item on the agenda was prompted by a request from SEARHC, whose president approached the city with a request to purchase the land, building and improvements at 209 Moller Drive, 202 and 204 Brady Street, and 302 Gavan Street.
The square footage of the properties is 134,425, which includes the 110,000-square-foot parcel on which the old hospital building sits.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Residents may testify in person or remotely, and the city clerk asks residents to make arrangements by calling 747-1826 by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Under the asset purchase agreement and lease agreement between the city and SEARHC, the health care consortium starting last summer became the main health provider in the community.
The properties include the old hospital building (with long-term care and rehabilitation services), and Mountainside Family Clinic. SEARHC has said the facilities needs “significant upgrades, requiring investment and future planning, and remediation of contamination and safety hazards.”
“This level of investment will only be feasible with ownership of the facility,” wrote Charles Clement, president and chief executive officer of SEARHC.
City Administrator John Leach’s memo asks for Assembly direction on:
– whether to keep or sell the properties.
– whether to waive competitive bidding for a sale.
– whether to authorize the sale through an advisory vote at a general or special election.
The item was up for discussion at the regular Assembly meeting Nov. 10, but was rescheduled for a special meeting after that meeting ran long, and Assembly members recognized there needed to be more opportunity for consideration, and public questions and comments.
City Clerk Sara Peterson said SEARHC has prepared a presentation for the meeting.
(An interview with SEARHC officials on the consortium’s plans for the property is in the Nov. 20 edition of the Sentinel.)
The city provides access to Assembly meetings remotely, through the city’s youtube channel and from the city of Sitka website.
Bruhl said SEARHC has its eye on the potential for the former hospital SCH property.
