By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday voted in favor of a 10-year tax abatement requested by Sioux Valley Regional Health Services.Commissioner Ron Boyenga voted against the motion, but would have favored a 50-percent abatement.The abatement passed by the county will amount to $10,000 a year. Abatements are usually granted when substantial economic development will occur.Boyenga said, "It’ll just benefit the doctors, and people should know that. Whatever we abate is paid for by taxpayers."Boyenga pointed out that clinic profits stay with doctors, and they are the ones taxed. The hospital portion of the Sioux Valley facility is not taxed. Jane Wildung said, "I understand Ron’s concerns, but I think the long-range benefits to the community from this clinic make the tax abatement something I support."The abatement is only from the county portion of taxes, not city or school. Sioux Valley outlined reasons for the abatement request:oexpanding medical servicesoincrease tax base with the new building and a planned additional five jobs that could encourage housing developmentothe current hospital and clinic will be taxed as the new one becomes occupiedoa hospital is a quasi-public service, providing emergency medical care regardless of patients’ ability to pay.As a side note to the Sioux Valley news, four lots near the new hospital will be donated to the county. Two have been earmarked for housing for the developmentally disabled, and two will be the county’s to use or sell. In other business Tuesday, the board:oEstablished a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee. Rock County was awarded a grant through the Regional Development Commission to develop a Hazard Mitigation Plan. With the plan, people can apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which they can’t without a local plan in place.The committee will determine where hazards are in the county (chemicals, flood-prone areas, etc.) and determine how to handle disasters.
