Vox Pop
The Wills Memorial Hospital Authority is planning an $18 million "regeneration" to expand and renew the hospital's 46-year-old building. Financing would be done through a bond issue and the Authority has asked the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners to guarantee (co-sign) the issue. If the Commissioners agree, county taxpayers will owe nothing unless the hospital fails. If they refuse, the project will be delayed until the Authority can find other financing. Do you think the Commissioners should support the hospital's regeneration project, or should the Authority wait until its financial position is strong enough to secure money on its own? Why?

"I think the commissioners should support the hospital's regeneration project. It is my understanding from the Hospital Authority that the hospital can make their payments. LAURA PURDY Hotel manager "We need to go ahead and fix the hospital now. If we wait until a catastrophic failure, we could lose the hospital forever." REV. CHRIS TOWNSEND First Baptist Church "I think that they should wait until Wilkes County can pay for it themselves." QUALISHA SMITH Student "We definitely need to keep Wills Memorial Hospital open. As a person with chronic health problems, I make regular visits to WMH for lab and emergency care. The administration and staff have improved considerably and I feel a good hospital is essential to the growth of Wilkes County. Yes, the commissioners should support and guarantee the project through the bond issue. CATHY LANNAE

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