The Eureka Springs Hospital Commission met Monday for the first time since they had seen the presentation by architect Tom Johnson and Program Manager Diane Adler of Bates and Associates showing four possible options for renovating Eureka Springs Hospital. Chair Michael Merry told commissioners the next step would be for Johnson and Adler to meet with the management team at Allegiance, the company which leases operation of ESH and whose CEO Rock Bordelon committed to paying an increased monthly lease to get the aging facility updated.
Merry said the meeting between Allegiance and the Bates team might not happen until Allegiance clears up matters related to their recent purchase of three hospitals in Louisiana. Nevertheless, he asked commissioners if they wanted to approve paying for Johnson and Adler to go to Shreveport for a couple days to meet with Bordelon and his management team.
Commissioner Dr. John House asked if Adler had already sent the presentation to Allegiance for review, commenting that the trip would not be inexpensive. Commissioners suggested a Skype meeting instead. Commissioner Barbara Dicks said she remembered Bordelon was willing to come to Eureka Springs for such a meeting.
House clarified for himself that the fate of the possible remodeling of ESH was now dependent upon Johnson and Adler striking an agreement with Allegiance. He pointed out one of the outcomes would be that Allegiance does nothing. If so, House said, the commission could get from Bates what they had produced and move forward.
He also brought up that the commission at some point must confront Allegiance for not meeting the terms of the lease because it has not been maintaining the facility as spelled out in the lease. House claimed a wall is suspect – the word “crumbling” was used – and refrigeration is faulty, both examples of regular maintenance Allegiance should be handling regardless of the new project.
Merry said he would speak with Johnson and Adler about the next step.