They have crossed the $6.9 million threshold in their fundraising efforts and $7 million is in sight. After that, the committee that is raising money for a new Estevan Regional Nursing Home feels the $8 million final goal will be quickly attainable.
"It will be all downhill after $7 million," said Don Kindopp, chairman of the New ERNH committee.
"Last week's donation and pledge by Regens Disposal for $50,000, put us beyond $6.9 million," said Kindopp.
The Sun Country Health Region has been advised that the local committee is seeking a green light in the not-too-distant future to proceed with a design and construction plan for the new facility that will probably be attached to St. Joseph's Hospital as a replacement for the current 72-bed nursing home on Wellock Road.
The value of the Wellock Road property has not been figured into the local contribution picture yet either, which could boost the local effort beyond the $7 million mark.
"We have had a meeting with Sun Country administration, and we understand that we're maybe number two on their list because they also need to build a new general hospital in Weyburn. They're fundraising in Weyburn for that now, too."
The $8 million will represent 20 per cent of the total anticipated cost of $40 million that it will take to replace the aging ERNH with a new building and equipment. That is the percentage that is required by provincial legislation to qualify for any government approved and supported public facility.
Kindopp said the local committee is seriously looking at pursuing a P3 model for financing and construction of the new nursing home. The private, public partnership scheme is being implemented for a similar purpose in Swift Current, and the model was also used to build a long-term care facility in Saskatoon.
"It could speed things up because we can't wait 10 years or anything like that. Once we get to 20 per cent we gotta make things happen," said Kindopp.
With a P3 model, the financing (mortgage) and operation costs are not included on the provincial ledgers.
"We haven't approached the politicians with the plan yet, but we will at the $7 million mark," said Kindopp. "We will get in the batter's box and start swinging to make sure Sun Country makes this a priority, but ultimately it will come down to the community itself and how badly we want it," he added.
Marga Cugnet, CEO for the Sun Country Health Region said the P3 idea for projects of this nature was an interesting one, well worth watching. She said the political will to move any health facility forward is significant and Kindopp did not disagree.
"If we get the feeling that Sun Country is not yet prepared to get behind this project and push it, then we'll get the local community to push it forward. We have several people in this city who should have some influence if that is what is necessary. We'll get to the politicians and do our own pushing," said Kindopp.
The local project chairman said that if there is original inertia, then they'll have to ask the question as to what will be done?
"We'll have to investigate other means to get it done. I'm not a politician, but we have people on our committee and people within our community who know how to deal with politicians," he said, in verifying the suggestion that projects such as these often become political in nature along with being needs-based applications.
"If we end up with a third party as a non-profit manager, we might get more flexibility in design as long as the total project meets government regulations," said Kindopp.
Gary St. Onge, one of Estevan's representatives on the Sun Country Health Region's board of directors, said that once the money is raised or pledged, it would be time to move and didn't disagree either that many items are often tied up in bureaucratic red tape. He cited the example of Estevan's proposal to buy, install and operate a CT scan at St. Joseph's Hospital as a prime one. He said that plan has been festering for some time now within the provincial health ministry with no decision forthcoming.
"I would think that if we don't hear about a CT scan for St. Joe's in the March provincial budget, we'll be making a lot of noise," said St. Onge.
When asked a similar question, St. Joseph's Hospital executive director, Greg Hoffort echoed that sentiment. Hoffort has been advocating for the scanning device since he came into his current position in 2011.
"We have a very generous population, second to none here. They are willing to make all kinds of donations and commitments. We have received solid citizen support and continued support over the years. They're dealing with real people around here, and they will be heard," said Kindopp.
