Friday, July 31, 2009

Barber County voters passed a bond issue to build two new hospitals. The new hospitals would replace the 25-bed facility in Medicine Lodge and another facility in Kiowa, neither of which are compliant to government guidelines according to hospital leaders.

Despite the vote, citizens say the commissioners are dragging their feet and missing deadlines to get the bond issue into the budget.

"I think you guys have a responsibility to follow what the wishes of a majority of this county are. And a majority said let's do this," said Dr. Pete Meador, Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital.

One commissioner expressed his reservations.

"I personally am not in favor of supporting two new hospitals in a county of 46-hundred people with a declining population," said Commissioner Steve Garten.

He says county residents would be saddled with paying off the bonds for decades. But residents maintain that’s what the people voted for. Even so, the commissioners wouldn’t vote to move the hospital issue forward.

Barber County residents are left hanging wondering if they'll get the hospitals a majority of voters voted for.