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Mayor and councilors voice concern after report Intermountain has budgeted engineering money to study moving hospital
Summary
Council heard that Intermountain Healthcare has approved funds (cited by staff as $7 million) to study moving hospital services from Mount Pleasant to a site near Ephraim, prompting council discussion about mobilizing residents and local officials to oppose a relocation that would affect access on the north end of Sanpete County.
Mount Pleasant councilors and the mayor raised concerns at their Jan. 14 meeting after staff reported that Intermountain Healthcare had approved money to study moving some hospital services to the Ephraim area. Staff described a planning or engineering budget (quoted in the meeting as $7,000,000) to explore relocation options.
Council members said a move could reduce local emergency and inpatient access for north-county residents and urged a coordinated community response. The mayor and several council members said the city should organize petitions, letters and outreach to Intermountain and county officials. Staff also reported difficulty locating a formal public notice from Intermountain and said the health system appeared to be conducting preliminary work.
Councilors discussed potential effects: longer transport times for serious cases, impacts on ambulance coverage patterns and possible loss of local economic activity tied to hospital services. Staff and council members noted Intermountain’s status as a non-taxable entity but also said a relocation could reduce local construction and hospital-related spending in the city.
Outcome: Council directed staff and local leaders to begin outreach and to explore ways to coordinate a public response, including gathering letters and rallying municipal partners. No formal resolution or ordinance was introduced at this meeting.
Ending: Councilors asked residents and civic leaders to collect information and suggested the mayor reach out to neighboring municipal leaders and county commissioners to coordinate opposition if the study moves forward.
