Dunklin County Residents will go to the polls in August to decide on two ballot issues for the construction of a new hospital in Kennett.
Dunklin County Commissioner Don Collins told the Kennett City Council that a special election will take place on Tuesday, August seventh. Two one-half-cent sales tax initiatives will be on the ballot that day.
Collins says the proposal is for passing both initiatives…one, called Proposition Health, would cover the costs of building a new hospital. The price tag is between 10 and 12 million dollars. The second part of the proposal is called Proposition Care, for other costs and maintenance of the new facility.
The Daily Dunklin Democrat reports the city of Kennett has donated real estate at the Dunklin County Compress for the location of a new hospital. If both measures are approved, construction could take place between 12 and 18 months. A professional management company would run the facility and would be overseen by the county.
A new hospital would have an emergency room, several inpatient and surgery rooms, imaging, and a pharmacy. An obstetrics department would come in later phases and the hospital would be built for future expansion.
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