Veterans Memorial Hospital to file petition for public vote on conversion from City to County ownership
During the Monday, March 21 meeting of the Waukon City Council, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) officials shared their intent to file a petition to invoke a vote for a City to County conversion of ownership of the hospital, and that expressed intention received the council’s support. VMH will now begin a petition for voter support on the conversion April 4. Approximately 400 signatures are needed to file the petition with the Allamakee County Commissioner of Elections in order to bring the matter to a required public vote later this year.
Like most rural hospitals, VMH faces growing financial challenges. Changes made by the hospital’s current leadership team have helped the hospital become solvent over the past two years. COVID relief dollars also helped offset expenses and fund minor renovations. Converting to a County-owned hospital will build on this progress and help ensure long-term sustainability with the support of recurring annual appropriations.
“The main goal of this conversion is to make sure Veterans Memorial is here for the community for the long term,” said Michael Coyle, CEO of VMH. “To do that, we need additional resources not only to retain inpatient services like OB, but to bring other specialties to Allamakee County and the surrounding area.”
Coyle also emphasized that the 70-year-old facility requires major renovations to meet new and upcoming healthcare codes. Appropriations would help support these critical infrastructure updates and other capital investments in technology.
“Our patients and their families have been - and always will be - at the center of every decision we make,” said Coyle. “That’s why this conversion is so important. It goes well beyond sustainability. It builds on decades of caring - not only for, but about each other. It’s critical to improving patient safety, meeting growing healthcare needs and changing regulations, and making sure everyone in the Waukon area continues to have access to exceptional care close to home. So, we really hope the community will support this effort.”
If the required number of signatures is collected, VMH will submit a petition to the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors August 18, 2022. The Board of Supervisors will then submit the petition to the election commissioner to be added to the general election ballot. The petition for the election and ballot language would be provided to the Allamakee County Auditor’s Office by September 23, and the matter placed on the ballot for the November 8, 2022 general election.
Watch for future updates from Veterans Memorial Hospital regarding the referendum, including the scheduling of an open forum for community members to share their questions and comments.
