Starke Hospital officials are putting the final touches on an agreement with the county for a new lease of the existing building at the intersection of Culver Road and South Heaton Street in Knox. A joint meeting between the Starke County Council and Commissioners, hospital board and Starke Hospital officials is scheduled Aug. 29th. Starke Hospital CEO Craig Felty says it clears the way for construction of a new hospital on the site.
“I still have a faint sense of optimism that we might break ground this year, but being a realist it tells me probably more like the end of first quarter ’17. I’m thinking once the weather breaks.”
Felty adds negotiations with the county have gone smoothly. Both sides just signed another extension of the current lease so they can finalize the new contract. Once that’s done, Felty says they will be able to go ahead with final design and engineering for the new hospital. It will be built on the existing site between the current hospital and medical office building.
The Starke County Council and commissioners plan to conduct a series of public meetings the week of Aug. 22 to share details of the new arrangement. Dates and locations will be announced at the Monday, Aug. 15 council and commissioners meeting.
