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Edgerton Hospital dreams big despite nightmare economy

EDGERTON — While other organizations scale back plans for new facilities, the CEO for Edgerton Hospital and Health Services still dreams big for his "healthy village."

"I really want to change the health status in this community," Jim Pernau told the Edgerton City Council on Monday. "That's what it boils down to."

Pernau and Jim Schultz, hospital foundation chairman, said they believe those dreams can move forward because people always need health care, no matter how bad the economy gets. They estimate the new facility on Highway 59 and Sherman Road will break ground in spring after more than two years of planning.

Actually, the facility is ahead of the curve, even though the new groundbreaking target is about a year later than originally planned, Schultz said. Most hospitals take about five to seven years to plan and build, he said.

"We're way ahead of that," he said.

The latest estimates call for a $25 million to $30 million hospital and medical office building and $6 million to $7 million skilled nursing and assisted living center.

In August, the Edgerton Care Center split from the hospital, but the hospital's foundation still is raising money for both buildings.

The new hospital has been delayed because of factors common to large building projects, such as planning delays, Pernau said. The hospital also took time working on its limited affiliation, announced in December, with SSM Health Care.

The organization is keeping its eye on the economy but doesn't believe the credit crisis will affect its plans, Pernau said.

"It's always a concern, but at this point in time we're just going to move forward," he said.

In fact, the hospital might benefit from cheaper building costs as construction companies compete for work, Schultz said.

The foundation has raised $1.6 million so far toward the hospital, medical office building and care center, more than its goal of $1.5 million, Schultz said. It has a challenge goal of $2.5 million.

Hospital officials are working to find the rest of the financing and hope to have it finalized in the next 60 days, Pernau said.

Pernau hopes the healthy village eventually includes other health-related facilities that combine alternative, preventative and traditional medicine. Some organizations have expressed interest in the site, but nothing is definite, he said.

"They all want to see the shovel in the ground," he said.

He told the city council Monday he hopes to build a community center on the site with donated materials and volunteer labor. He also plans to include community gardens, hiking trails and orchards.

The organization is committed to building an environmentally friendly facility, Schultz said. It will probably be the first hospital in the state with a geothermal system. Schultz mentioned ideas from other hospitals, such as organic food options, roof gardens and energy-generating elevators as possibilities.

City council members said they were impressed with the vision the men laid out.

"It's awesome to see what Edgerton can do when they put their mind to it," Mayor Erik Thompson said. "It's going to be the best thing Edgerton ever had."