Trustees to discuss $1 million to design center

About $1 million to design a proposed regional medical center may be set aside by Carson-Tahoe Hospital Trustees on Thursday.

It's another step toward building the center and will include money for civil engineering, architectural design, legal fees and financial and feasibility studies.

"This is the initial funding that will allow us to take the next logical step toward planning the hospital," said hospital spokesman Richard Linkul. "It's a specific, approved budget to help us move forward with building E Designers need to know what the products and services are and how they should be laid out. In this planning phase, physicians, directors and other employees will work with the consulting company to create and optimal design."

Several companies were researched and screened through phone interviews, resulting in five on-site presentations Tuesday. A decision should be announced this evening, according to Carson-Tahoe's Chief Executive Officer Ed Epperson.

In other business:

--Contracts for the purchase of property for the new regional medical center campus site will be considered.

--About 65 acres just north of Eagle Valley Ranch Road has been named as the first choice for construction of the new center and officials are working with Eagle Valley Children's Home, owners of the largest piece of property being considered.

--Originally county owned, Carson-Tahoe Hospital initiated efforts to become a private, nonprofit hospital following a decision by the Board of Trustees in March of this year. These efforts were approved by Carson City's Board of Supervisors July 19 and application for tax exempt status was submitted July 23. Officials estimate the transition should be completed in January of 2002.

As a private nonprofit, Carson-Tahoe Health Systems will oversee a number of subsidiaries, including Carson-Tahoe Hospital.