Hospital board waits for construction work

Monday’s monthly meeting of the Greater Regional Health board may have been the last one held in the conference room.

Hospital officials are waiting for construction to begin on the addition of the lab which will force board meetings to be held elsewhere.

“We have broken ground,” said Chief Executive Officer Monte Neitzel. “We thought this room would be taken over, but it hasn’t.” A location for board meetings during construction has not been determined.

The location for the expansion is part of the existing Medical Arts Plaza entrance.

Earlier this year, the board approved a bid explained by Graham Construction in Des Moines. The actual construction bid was $7.89 million. Adding, contingency, permits, insurance and other expenses, the total was $9.76 million. Architect fees, testings furniture and other building-related items at $2.21 million made a final amount of $11.98 million.

A representative from Graham Construction said during bid approval, the schedule was to begin work in late June or early July. The project is not expected to be finished until early 2025.

The work will be done in phases with the majority of the exterior finished in 16 to 18 months.

The Creston complex is not the only building work. Neitzel said construction is going well in Greenfield building a clinic on the west side of the town’s square.

“It’s a 100-year-old building. We have to make sure that we maintain the integrity of the building so it can stand for another 100 years,” Neitzel said.

Greater Regional officials are still researching what could be done to the property acquired on Dogwood, west of the complex. There is about 2 acres. Neitzel said the property may help the main facility to prevent from becoming landlocked.

The Greater Connections Development Center is still waiting for a parking lot to be paved as it has 86 children. Once open, Greater Connections, located at 1405 N. Lincoln St., will be partnering with the Creston Community School District to provide breakfast and lunch for children at the daycare.

The board approved a $14,178 donation to Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center for exercise equipment. Greater Regional has long supported those items at the center.