By Lori EhdeA stark white tent against the backdrop of black, tilled dirt set the stage for Luverne Community Hospital and Clinics groundbreaking celebration Tuesday.The black dirt, that will soon be replaced by a 95,000 square-foot hospital and clinic campus, was referenced often during the ceremony."As you can see, we have a large expanse of land behind us," said Jerry Carl, CEO of Luverne Community Hospital. "It’s land that will be dedicated to the health care of the folks that make Luverne and this area their home."He said the ground will soon be moved and foundations poured."But it is only a structure," Carl said. "Inside will be our caring, expert healthcare staff. … That’s what makes a healthy community, not the building."Speakers included LCH Community Advisory Board Chair Steve Perkins, LCH Chief of Staff Dr. Stephan L. Chesley, Luverne Mayor Glen Gust and Partnership Campaign Chair Greg Burger.Gust said having a new healthcare facility in Luverne is a benefit to the community. "It’s more than just a building," he said. "It’s an opportunity to provide more healthcare services, and that will not only enhance the viability of the community, but it will also help us encourage more economic development in the area."The $17.8 million hospital and clinic will have more than 95,000 square feet of space, more than doubling the space of the current land-locked hospital and clinic. Luverne Community Hospital and Clinic is a member of Sioux Valley Hospitals & Health System, which announced the project this spring after studies showed necessary renovations would cost nearly as much as building new.Architect for the new facilities is TSP of Sioux Falls, S.D. Construction is expected to be complete by summer of 2005.
