Floyd Valley Healthcare Proposes New Expansion Project For Specialty Clinics And Therapy
(Le Mars) — During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Floyd Valley Healthcare officials informed council members of proposed plans to expand the hospital facilities to include a specialty clinic and therapy. The Le Mars City Council adopted a resolution to approve setting a public hearing on April 6th for public comments on a 13,123 square foot, $10.3 million dollar addition.
The Specialty Clinic and Therapy Expansion Project is proposed for the north parking area. While currently in the final phases of schematic design, the overall project timelines have not been finalized. Floyd Valley officials informed the city council they hope that some progress and physical work may begin in late summer with completion in spring of 2023.
The Floyd Valley Board of Trustees unanimously approved the project at their March 9th monthly meeting. Ralph Klemme says, “As Board of Trustees Chair, I am excited to see and support the continued growth at Floyd Valley Healthcare.” Klemme continued by saying, “As the only hospital in Plymouth County, it is very important that we provide a quality healthcare experience
for all of our communities. We know we have the best staff in the world, proving that time and again during this pandemic. Making sure we provide the infrastructure and equipment they need to best serve our communities is one of our top priorities. Keeping healthcare at home not only benefits the patient and the hospital, but also fuels the growth of our local economy.”
The first floor of the proposed project has been designed for the visiting specialty clinics and include a separate entrance, exam rooms and waiting space. Twenty additional exam rooms will be constructed which allows for greater efficiencies and space for continued specialty clinic growth and recruitment.
The second floor will be entirely dedicated to Floyd Valley Therapies. Along with a complete remodel of current department, Speech Therapy will be relocated to the current therapy department space, allowing all of our therapy services to come together. The second floor addition will allow for a multipurpose track, new exam rooms and additional space for therapy and exercise equipment.
The project will also include the demolition of the former Senior Center to provide additional parking to account for the loss of space with the new addition.
Dustin Wright, Floyd Valley Healthcare CEO says, “This is a very exciting time for Floyd Valley Healthcare.” “Keeping care close to home has always been a top priority for our organization and specialty practices play a large role in that promise. We have several specialists providing care in our organization that are growing and we need more space to accommodate current
and future growth. The additional twenty exam rooms will be a more efficient space for providers and more comfortable for our patients and families. The second floor will be entirely dedicated to Floyd Valley Therapies growth along with a complete remodel of the current department. Speech Therapy will move, bringing all of our therapy services together in one space. In addition
a new track, exam rooms, and additional space for therapy and exercise equipment will compose the new second floor. We are excited to get this project started and invest in healthcare services for our communities.”
Amy Harnack, Foundation Manager says, “The Floyd Valley Foundation is equally excited to be a part of funding this project. An allocation of $1.4 million in estate gifts received over the past two years will be used to help fund this important expansion. Major gifts allow the Foundation to be an essential part of the continued growth of patient services and overall healthcare offered in our communities. We are grateful for these gifts and the many donors who continue to recognize their importance.”
Mayor Dick Kirchoff Says He Won’t Seek Another Term
(Le Mars) — Mayor Dick Kirchoff had an announcement regarding his future plans at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Kirchoff has been the mayor for Le Mars for the past 12 years. Kirchoff then commented on a familiar theme talking about the partnership that is needed between the private sector and the public sector.
Kirchoff commented on the cooperation he has witnessed during his tenure among city leaders, business leaders, and the city staff.
The out-going and active mayor spoke about the city’s numerous volunteers that often step up and help make projects successful.
Following the announcement, Kirchoff concluded his comments by thanking the city’s residents, council members – past and present, and city staff for placing confidence in him. Kirchoff praised the city and says he sees a bright future for Le Mars.
City council members and attendees of the council meeting than showed their appreciation for Mayor Dick Kirchoff by giving him applause for his service to the city.
Sole Bidder Obtains Ownership Of Residential Care Facility
(Le Mars) — With only one bid submitted, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors accepted the bid of $301,112 for the Residential Care Facility located on the eastern edge of town. The county board of supervisors had stipulated a minimum bid of $300,000. The winning bid, and only bid, was submitted by D.C. Reality of South Sioux City, Nebraska. Owners Charlie
Nelson and Donnie Grant indicated they intend to keep Pride Group as the lease tenant for the building. Upon the sale of the property, the terms of the agreement made by the county, would allow Pride Group to continue to utilize the facility for a period of two years beginning April 1st.
Nelson says his company intends to upgrade the facilities almost immediately.
The building was constructed in the 1940’s, and Donnie Grant explains the interest D.C. Reality has in the building and complex.
The two owners say if Pride Group should ever terminate the lease agreement, they probably would convert the building to accommodate multi-family apartment units. Grant says D.C. Reality owns other facilities in the Siouxland area that they have converted to become apartment complexes.
Grant and Nelson say if the building should be renovated to accommodate multi-family units, they anticipate the current building may be able to serve 12 units. Currently, Pride Group utilizes the building for more than 40 beds.
Iowa House Republicans Pass Bill Banning Diversity Training That Is Divisive
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa House Republicans have passed legislation banning school curriculum and government agency diversity training that sponsors say “promotes divisive concepts.” Off-limit ideas would include those indicating the U-S and the state of Iowa are fundamentally or systemically racist or
sexist. The training could not suggest an individual, by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive – whether consciously or unconsciously. Democrats voted against the bill saying it will prevent implicit bias training and deny the existence of white privilege and systemic racism.
Congresswoman Hinson Co-Sponsors PPP Extension Act
(Washington, DC) — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is a co-sponsor of a bill extending the Paycheck Protection Program for two months. The Iowa Republican says she has heard from many small businesses in her district who have been able to keep their doors open and workers employed because of the P-P-P. The measure also gives the Small Business Administration an
additional 30 days to fully process loan applications received before the May 31st deadline. Hinson says the bill is common-sense legislation with bipartisan support. She says it will help Iowans make it through the pandemic.
Ankey-Based Pet Parents Building $6.5M Headquarters
(Ankeny, IA) — Construction starts next month on the new 31-thousand square-foot headquarters for Ankeny-based Pet Parents. The company says the six-and-a-half-million-dollar project could also mean at least 28 new full-time jobs over the next three years. Pet Parents makes products for dogs and
cats like chew toys and blankets. It sells those products online and in pet stores nationwide. The company has been acknowledged as one of the five-thousand fastest-growing businesses in the U-S. Founded in 2016, it has doubled its revenue each year – and that brought on the need for more space.
Long-Term Care Outbreaks Down To One
(Wapello, IA) — There’s another sign that the pandemic’s impact is easing across the state. The state website now shows just one active Covid outbreak listed at a nursing home. The site lists 13 cases of coronavirus at the Vista Wood Care Center in Wapello. There were 167 nursing homes were reporting
Covid outbreaks in the first week of December. A record 56-hundred residents and staff had the virus on December 8th.
