CCMSD to explore grant options

The Board of Trustees is looking to gather information on potential U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants that could support a bid for Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) to build a new hospital.

The idea of inviting a representative from the USDA was raised by Trustee Brent Fowler and, he said, was the result of conversations with Kathy Lenz, Resource and Economic Development Manager for U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis.

He explained at Friday’s meeting that there are potential grant options available, including specifically for medical facilities. There is funding right now that could be used for a new hospital – and other purposes, too, he said – and a USDA representative has agreed to set an appointment with the board to discuss them.

However, said Fowler, “The word of caution is that it’s not going to be out there forever.”

Therefore, he suggested that the board might want to explore this avenue “the quicker the better”, lest the money disappear before CCMSD has a chance to apply for it.

Referencing uncertainties about the district’s debt capacities – including ongoing discussions about whether to ask the public to increase the mill levy, Trustee Sandy Neiman asked:

“If we can’t increase the mill levy right now or even after two years, and we don’t know what our debt capacity can be, why have a meeting with USDA right now?”

Fowler pointed out that it can’t hurt to host such a meeting “to see what’s even available” and said there would be “absolutely no commitment”. Erickson agreed on the basis that the meeting would be purely informational.

Neiman, however, suggested waiting until the board has a clearer picture of the district’s debt capacity.

That brings up an important question, said Fowler: how long is it going to be before the board has this information?

There is, as yet, no firm completion date for the feasibility that the board plans to ask Casey Peterson & Associates to complete. However, said Erickson, that shouldn’t necessarily stop the board from gathering further information.

“Let’s hear what’s out there so it’s just another tool in the box,” he said.

Fowler noted that the meeting wouldn’t just be about what financial support is out there, but also whether or not the district qualifies for it.

“There’s just a whole lot of things that we can find out to help maybe direct us,” he said.

Erickson suggested scheduling an hour for the appointment during a regular board meeting to allow for the public to attend, and asking the USDA representative to run through the available options and Casey Peterson representatives to attend in order to hear those options and ask questions.

There would be no commitment following that meeting, he stressed.

“We don’t have to sign, it’s not like we’re buying a timeshare here,” he joked.

Fowler confirmed that, according to the communications he has had with the USDA representative, there would be “no obligations whatsoever”.

The board agreed to see if this will be a possibility for all involved, considering differing schedules, and add it to next month’s agenda if so.