[StBernard] ST. BERNARD PARISH HOSPITAL MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD!!

[Westley Annis]

ST. BERNARD PARISH HOSPITAL MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD!!

 

It has been nearly 5 years with no hospital in St. Bernard since Hurricane
Katrina.  The proposed project has floundered for years.  However, today
marks one of the last ingredients for the construction of the new hospital
to become a reality.  After less than one year since leadership change came
to the Hospital Board, financing of the project was finally solidified, and
all the technical legal hurdles associated with building a healthcare
facility for public use have been overcome.  It has taken legal fights,
special legislation, and tenuous negotiations with the proposed land donor
to finally bring the project together.

 

Today, Hospital Board Chairman Wayne J. Landry has executed the documents
that secure the land for the construction of St. Bernard Parish's new
hospital.  There were alternate land sites that many believed to be more
suitable for the Hospital site.  However, the Archdiocese of New Orleans was
unwilling to provide the former Prince of Peace site and St. Bernard's HRQL
board, ran by Parish President Craig Taffaro, ended the possibility of
locating the hospital on what would have been a totally cleared Village
Square land site by a heavily contested split decision in which President
Taffaro cast the tie-breaking "nay" vote.

 

"We were very disappointed in the HRQL's decision, because the cleared
Village Square tract of land would have brought another $12 million to the
Hospital Project," Landry said.

 

Alternate sites were heavily explored by members of the Hospital Board who
had continuous concerns of protecting the new hospital from outside
influences and competition which would have harmed its financial viability.
Just one week ago, the Meraux Foundation finally agreed to meet face-to-face
with Hospital Chairman Landry, and a full half-day of negotiations ensued.

 

Chairman Landry stated, "When two parties negotiate, they of course fight
hard for their own interests.  In the end, compromise was achieved for the
Hospital Board, and we were able to eliminate any outside influences on
hospital operating decisions in the land donation documents.  This cleared
the way for the Board's agreement to accept the donation of the hospital
site from the Meraux Foundation."

 

With the signing of the land donation documents, which took place at 11 a.m.
this morning, the Hospital Board now only awaits State approval to advertise
for bids and to select contractors to be able to break ground and deliver
this new state-of-the-art hospital facility to the people of St. Bernard
Parish.