Village staff told the council Memorial Health is preparing to open a new Memorial Jerome Medical Center in Jerome Township and that some Plain City services will shift to the new facility.

Jason Sanford (identified in council motions later in the meeting) presented an economic development update and said the administration is concerned that the relocation of services — following the recent loss of a local pharmacy in Feb. 2024 — could leave Plain City with limited local access to pharmacy, primary care and urgent care services. Sanford described those short‑term risks as potentially creating a “medical desert” if not addressed.

Sanford said village staff are proactively contacting prospective health‑care providers tied to planned commercial development and suggested sending a formal letter to Memorial Health expressing community concerns; the draft letter circulated to council members would also be copied to the publicly owned county hospital. Several council members said they had already signed that letter and expected broad support.

Council did not vote on any formal remedy at this meeting but directed staff to continue outreach and to pursue the formal letter as an initial, nonbinding step to document local concerns to Memorial Health and the county hospital.