By Lori EhdeGroundbreaking for the new Luverne Community Hospital and Clinic will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the site just north of the Minnesota Veteran’s Home neighborhood along Highway 75.The public is invited to the ceremony, which will include a lineup of dignitaries for the traditional shovel turning.Speakers include Luverne Community Hospital CEO Jerry Carl, 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, The $17.8 million hospital and clinic will have more than 93,000 square feet of space, more than doubling the space of the current land-locked hospital and clinic. The hospital and clinic together employ 230 people, paying more than $8 million in salaries each year, with an overall budget of $15 million a year.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 will begin next month and may be complete by mid-2005.‘Partnership Campaign’ gets $375,000 in pledgesIn addition to Sioux Valley’s $13 million investment in the project, the Luverne Community Health Care Foundation is working to raise $1 million or more in donations through its "Partnership Campaign." The capital fund-raising program gained momentum this week with a $50,000 pledge from Minnwest Bank."The strength of our community is often measured by the quality of our health care," said Greg Burger, president of Minnwest Bank, Luverne. "Our bank wants Luverne to be measured as strong and growing stronger." He said the economic impact of the hospital and Clinic today is $15 million, and with the new facilities in place, it will be much greater."This is truly an investment," said Burger, who is also chair of The Partnership Campaign. The campaign, conducted by volunteers, is off to a strong start. A week ago, it received $325,000 in support from administration and employees of the hospital and clinic and the full-time medical staff. "I hope our gift inspires others to make generous gifts," Burger said. "We are helping to secure our own future as a community at the same time we are helping our neighbors." Burger, 283-2366, and Michele Van Dyke, 220-2424, with the Luverne Community Health Care Foundation, can be contacted for fund-raising information.City and county supportThe City of Luverne is supporting the project through a $2.5 million grant (which includes taking over ownership of the old facilities), a $1 million interest-free loan and $2.45 million in infrastructure improvements.Rock County’s contribution to the project includes upgrading the half-mile stretch of gravel on the north edge of the site to an urban section of road. The work, estimated to cost about $1.2 million, would include building it up to a 9-ton paved road curbs and gutters, plus sidewalks on the south side. The county’s work will also include cutting the hill down on Highway 75 at the intersection and putting in turn lanes on both Highway 75 and the new road.
