Voters will decide Nov. 2 whether to increase a countywide sales tax by 1⁄4 of a cent to go toward a new Allen County Hospital.
Members of the Allen County Healthcare Committee address questions about the issue.
Q: What does having a modern hospital have to do with keeping jobs or attracting new ones?
A: The original part of Allen County’s present hospital structure was built in the early 1950s. At that time Allen County had several industries: Lehigh Portland Cement, Walton Foundry, Pet Milk, Monarch Cement Co., Humboldt Brick and Tile and a few others.
With the exception of Monarch all are gone now. And they have been re-placed by Gates Rubber Co., Herff-Jones, Columbia Metal, TRAMEC, Russell Stover Candies, Cameron International, M&W Mfg., Inc., T&E Co., D of K Vaults, Humboldt Industries, B&W Custom Truck Beds, Advantage Computers, Kneisley Manufacturing and Sonic Sales and Equipment, and Hal-dex, to name some of the larger employers.
As we all know, Haldex will soon be closed. To replace it with an industry of a similar size will re-quire that we compete with all the other small counties across the country that are vying for more jobs for people there.
Industries close for many reasons. Looking back, Le-high Portland did not modernize; Walton Foundry was purchased by owners who had too much debt; Pet Milk’s condensed milk product lost consumer appeal, and so on. Economic development specialists observe that a community can expect to lose a major employer every seven years or so for a variety of reasons.
When site selectors are hired by companies looking to expand or relocate businesses, the site selectors have checklists of what community characteristics are desired by the company looking to relocate or to expand. On every list is the presence of a local, modern hospital.
In order to replace the jobs we are losing with the Haldex closing and the additional closings that are surely going to come in the years ahead, the county must have a modern hospital facility. Think “jobs” when you vote “yes” for a new hospital. It is important to attract new industries and the jobs they provide.
If you agree with us and would like to help our voter information effort with your time or your money we can use both. We expect it to take several hundred volunteers to get the word out with only a few short weeks before the election. Volunteer names or contributions may be sent to “Yes Allen County Healthcare,” at A.C.B., Inc, 16 W. Jackson, Iola, KS 66749 or left at the Moran, Humboldt or Iola branches of Emprise Bank where we have our checking account.
Yard signs supporting the hospital vote are available at the Thrive Allen County office, 2 E. Jackson and at local banks.
Yes! Allen County Healthcare
