The joint-County and City advisory commission met prior to Monday night’s Hiawatha City Commission meeting, and City Administrator Mike Nichols, who is the chairman of the joint-commission, brought a final update to the City. Nichols stated that the group had made their recommendations to the hospital, and at this point, the commission’s job appears to be done. One of the sticking points from prior meetings seemed to be resolved, as the hospital said they would work toward an affiliation with a regional healthcare provider, and if that did not come to pass, they would seek out a healthcare management firm to assist with finances. The commission had put finding a healthcare management firm to the hospital as a condition of the sales tax proposal, but was satisfied with the suggestion of a regional provider affiliation. Representatives of the hospital, said Nichols, now needs to go before the County Commission to request placing a half percent sales tax on a special election ballot.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)