The Emporia city commission has passed to annex land east of Road G and South of West 18th Ave. into city limits for the purpose of building a new Stormont Vail Health Center facility. The decision comes after 14 months of deliberation and mediation between Stormont Vail and Newman Regional Health Center.
Standing room only was available in the Municipal Court during the commission's deliberation. During time for public comments, 14 community members, including board members and staff from Newman Regional, took to the stand to address concerns with the annexed property. Many were passionate in their deliveries, citing potential increases in property taxes, financial instability for Newman Regional, and switching out community care for corporate care as reasons to avoid the proposition.
Dr. Alana Longwell, a Hospitalist with Newman Regional, said that, “The facility will have minimal positive impact on the economy. Instead, this annexation will have a negative impact, straining existing resources such as streets and water.
” Dr. Christina Faulkner, a former Stormont Vail OB-GYN, recently moved to Newman Regional Health. Faulkner expressed her dissatisfaction with Stormont Vail by stating, “They’ve become very corporate.
They don’t listen to what the physicians say. They have no interest in what it takes for physicians to stay in a rural community.” Dr.
Cathy Pimple, CEO of Newman Regional, quoted a question asked by City Commissioner Jamie Sauder in an email sent in.