Here we go again, last time it was the rest area/roundabout debacle and now we have a medical clinic.

How many cities own a medical clinic? Our mayor has figured out if you label any project as “Economic Development” the elected officials stumble over each other to find a way to fund it. I assume that it will be known as the Vini Samuel-Brian Blake-Derek Kilmer Medical Center.

As a citizen, I would like to know more about what level of research went into this project. Is this a perceived need or a real need? Why not schedule a public workshop and have a casual conversation surrounding the needs analysis that justifies this project? The mayor could lay out her research and demonstrate why the city needs to own a medical facility. At the same time explain how this qualifies as “Economic Development.” I realize that this is not her style, she has already sold this idea to the ones who control the purse strings. We, the public are supposed to sit back, be quiet and pay for it. Why do her plans always involve taxpayer money?

How could this site even be suitable for such a development? What the public needs to know is that this site was already looked at when the city explored sites for the new public works building. It was deemed not suitable. That is why the public works building was constructed east of town off of Beacon Avenue. I’m sure if someone did some research, the records are readily available. Why should the county spend another $50K to discover something that has already been explored? Maybe the county can reconsider their contribution and use it for something else?

The mayor has done a good job at improving some of the roads around town. (Yes, that is a compliment.) Why not continue on that path and forget this elaborate scheme to build a clinic? We have a new facility 10 miles away in Elma, Summit Pacific. They seem to have the same services that the mayor wants here. Why duplicate? I’d say that we have far more questions than answers. At this point, the City Council needs to pump the breaks and not blindly follow this endeavor. Let’s get some answers and include the public before moving forward. Just because the mayor has connections with some elected officials, doesn’t make her projects a good idea.

Let’s focus on real needs and let private enterprise or the hospital districts handle the large capital projects. Why should the city get involved in a medical clinic? What’s next, is Grays Harbor Community Hospital going to create a police force? Or, Summit Pacific create a fire department? Think about it!

Doug Iverson

Montesano