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Hospital officials update Meeker County board on pharmacy certification, building timetable and preliminary finances
Summary
Hospital officials told the board the new pharmacy construction is complete but awaiting final air‑handling tests and microbial results; construction documents for a larger building project will move to bidding and officials said they expect to break ground in summer with a 2028 completion target. Finance staff said 2025 revenue outpaced budget but noted final audit adjustments remain.
Hospital representatives updated the board on a multi‑phase building project and preliminary finances.
Mary Ellen Wells (introduced at the meeting) said the hospital finished a pharmacy replacement project in late October but delayed certification after inspection scheduling problems and a subsequent re‑inspection. “They came last week, looked — everything looks good,” she told commissioners, adding the facility awaited air and microbial test results and hoped to move into the new pharmacy by the end of the week.
Wells described the broader building project as moving from design‑development to construction‑documents stage. She said the city approved vacating two alleys and granted a parking variance; the hospital plans to build roughly 350 spaces and expects to move to bid solicitation this summer with construction likely to begin shortly after and an overall project timeline of about two years.
Tyler Russo, who spoke about financials, said the hospital is still completing its audit; preliminary, unaudited results show 2025 revenue about 7 percent higher than budget and expenses also up about 7 percent. Russo said January 2026 revenue was roughly $7.6 million and February about $6.5 million; after audit adjustments he expects an operating margin in the range of roughly 2.5 to 3.5 percent. He noted two pending adjustments — a PERA liability change and a cost‑report adjustment — that could affect final figures.
Commissioners asked whether regional hospital struggles pose a risk to local services. Wells said she expected some service contractions regionally but stressed the hospital’s role as a trauma and teaching center that draws patients statewide. The board did not take formal action on the hospital presentation.
