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Council authorizes negotiation with nonprofit to repurpose old hospital as veterans clinical hub
Summary
Council directed the city manager to negotiate and execute a partnership agreement with Choose Clinical Group to remediate asbestos and restore the old Fort Duncan/Maverick County hospital for veterans and community clinical services; motion passed with three votes in favor and one abstention.
The Eagle Pass City Council on June 2 authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Choose Clinical Group to explore converting the old Fort Duncan / Maverick County Memorial Hospital into a clinical hub for veterans and the public.
Jacob Pisana, president of Choose Clinical Group, told the council the nonprofit aims to acquire the abandoned hospital by donation, remove asbestos and other hazards, and restore the building to provide primary care, mental-health services, telehealth and workforce training for the roughly 1,700 veterans he said live in the region. He described a three-step approach: site assessment and asbestos remediation, environmental cleanup and rehabilitation funded through state and federal grants and philanthropic support, and establishment of clinical services that could accept VA-authorized payors such as TriWest and CHAMP VA.
Sonia Deado, the group’s funding and procurement lead, estimated remediation and coordination would take about two years, citing required cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas DSHS, OSHA and potential EPA funding. Mike Chavez, a Maverick County veteran service officer, and other local veterans described long travel times to San Antonio or Laredo for specialty care and urged local services.
City staff and council members discussed appropriate legal mechanisms to protect city interests. The mayor and several council members recommended a long-term, low-cost lease or an agreement with reversion provisions rather than an unconditional donation of the property; city staff offered to negotiate terms and support grant applications. The motion to allow the city manager to enter into and execute an agreement passed with three in favor and one abstention.
What the council approved: staff may negotiate terms (recommended: long-term lease with reversion clause), pursue grant and technical support, and return to council with a final agreement for approval or provide notice per the negotiated delegation.
