According to Kansas Renewal Institute Chief Operating Officer T.J. Denning, information is not flowing between the Bourbon County Commission and K.R.I.
Denning spoke to the commission on September 30 at their regular meeting.
K.R.I. is in negotiations with Legacy Health Foundation to take ownership of the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
He told the commission that he “needs to be in the loop” in talks with Legacy Health Foundation and the commission.
Apparently, the negotiations are at a standstill between Legacy and K.R.I.
Denning told the commission that they are trying to get the Emergency Department opened at the facility.
“I have a concern that we still don’t have an update on the equipment donated to you, as the county. There is a list of things that aren’t there, there is a list of things that have to be fixed in order for Freeman (Health System) to come here. We don’t have answers,” Denning said.
Bourbon County Commission Chairman Jim Harris said “We think we have a lot of things resolved as of this morning. We just can’t talk publically yet. That’s what the County Counselor told me.”
“I’m pulling the license and also managing everything that is going on for that to happen,” he told them. “I have already signed contracts for service agreements to make this happen, basically at the will of everybody else.”
“Also, I don’t know where we are with the building purchase,” he said. “K.R.I. is in the process of negotiating and is ready to take ownership of the building through Legacy but I haven’t heard anything back. You said the tax deal was all worked out…I need some answers to carry on our business and make things happen. We’ve invested a ton of money into that facility and constantly going through CMS inspections…along with the fire marshall inspection on a building that isn’t in our name yet.”
CMS means Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to usa.gov.
Harris said that they could possibly have discussions with Legacy and “go forward.”
“I came here and tried to build partnerships with everybody else and be an open book,” Denning said. “I am local to Nevada (MO) and am passionate about rural communities. I’ve also got a ton of employees and I am passionate about their success. I need this information so I can make sure that we are established and here for a long time.”
“We will work hard to get you the info you need and I want to thank you personally as a citizen and the commission of what you’ve done for us here in Bourbon County,” Harris said.
Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt asked how soon the commission could get the info to Denning.
Harris said he would appoint Commissioner Clifton Beth, who has been working with Legacy, to talk to them right away.
Denning said he needed answers before the end of this week.
“By the end of this week, I have to have drawings between Freeman (Health System) and myself, stamped and signed and sent into CMS,” Denning said.
“I don’t have a problem reaching out,” Beth said. “But they are a private company.”
“We’ll try,” Harris said. “We want you here.”
A Little History of Legacy and K.R.I
Here is the Legacy Health Foundation agreement with the Bourbon County Commission: Donation-Agreement-Corrected
In the referenced November 17, 2022 donation agreement above the county donated the Mercy property to Legacy Health Foundation along with $2 million dollars.
To view prior features on K.R.I. at the facility:
https://fortscott.biz/news/kansas-renewal-institute-repurposes-mercy-hospital