Expansion Project Update

On December 29, 2008 with beautiful spring like weather, our Groundbreaking Ceremony was held. A crowd of supporters including community leaders, financial lenders, patients, and Harper Hospital employees and providers filled the empty lawn in front of the hospital. A row of shovels was the background for those who spoke to the crowd including Kim Cinelli, Administrator, the now new State Treasurer Dennis McKinney and USDA Rural Development Chuck Banks. With shovels in hand, administration, board members, financial lenders, USDA, Harper County Commissioners and Harper Hospital physicians all took their turn in breaking ground for Harper Hospital’s “Building for Better Care” project. (see pictures)

The next four weeks of construction will mainly consist of site demolition, the construction of the building pad and building the footings and sleves.

Our Construction Manager-at Risk is Hutton Construction with Mike Dierking as the on-site supervisor.

With the construction, Maple Street is no longer accessible for parking or for entering the hospital. The map below shows where patients and public should park and where the temporary entrance to the hospital is. We ask that you please observe all construction related signs as there are areas that are off-limits and require hard hats. Your safety is a priority with Harper Hospital and Hutton Construction.

We want to thank everyone for their support towards our “Building for Better Care” project. A big “Thank You” to all those who donated funds through the Kansas Tax Credit program. Total donations of $214,285.72 were received by Harper Hospital with $150,000 in Kansas tax credits allocated to those donors.

They say our project will take nine (9) months to complete. We are excited about the first signs of construction but know that the next several months will be difficult with parking and noise. We want to “Thank You” in advance for your cooperation and patience!! Our goal is to continue to provide “Quality of Care Right Here at Home” even with a torn up street and sounds of machinery in the background.

Please let administration and/or any of our board members know if you have any questions and/or concerns. We want our patients, community and supporters to be part of the excitement as we are “Building for Better Care.”

Continue to watch for more updates and pictures on our web site!!

Kim Cinelli, Administrator

Bob Grant, Board Chairman

Pat Kerschen

Bill Giesen

Lisa Mathes

Diana Capps

March Update-Construction Progress

The Construction Crew has been very busy this past month and it shows! From what once was Maple Street is now the concrete foundation for our new building!

This past month, the foundation walls were put in place and poured with cement. The underslab plumbing was installed along with the electrical conduit. The cement floor was poured and the new front entrance can be seen with the columns now standing for the front entry vestibule. (See Pictures)

It’s been interesting and fun to watch the progress of the building! Employees, patients and visitors have all enjoyed looking out the windows and watching from the street the progress made from day to day.

The weather has been very cooperative with our construction project. There has only been a couple of days where the construction crews were not able to work either due to rain or snow.

The project is at an estimated 6-7% completed. Everything is going according to schedule and on budget!

We’ve enjoyed working with Mike Dierking, the on-site supervisor with Hutton Construction and all the other sub-contractors thus far. Project Meetings are held every two weeks to provide Administration and Board Members updates, progress notes and project schedules.

Administration and Board Members would like to remind you to please observe all construction related signs as there are areas that are off-limits and require hard hats. Your safety is a priority with Harper Hospital and Hutton Construction.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during our “Building for Better Care” project. We are excited about the progress made thus far and what is yet to come! We understand though that the next several months will still be difficult with parking and noise. “Thank You” for choosing Harper Hospital! Our goal is to continue to provide “Quality Care Right Here at Home” even with sounds, hammers and machinery in the background.