05/28/09

Twin Falls County and St. Luke's officials have signed a final agreement resolving all outstanding issues including the downtown hospital campus. Wednesday morning, the Twin Falls County Commissioners and St. Luke's Officials signed the final agreement regarding the finalized terms they reached in April.

This agreement resolves all outstanding issues including the renovation of the downtown clinic building; and within the next 30 days as part of the agreement, St. Luke's will pay more than $4.6 million to the county.

SLMV CEO Mark Schwartz says, "We're real happy that we've put this behind us now and that realized an agreement with county and both parties are happy with the outcome. We're both looking forward to moving lock-step together in the future and working toward the betterment of healthcare for the community."

Schwartz says that St. Luke's promised $3 million to the county, under the original sales agreement, in 2006 for the renovation of the campus. Commissioner George Urie says there were 10 other points that were part of the negotiation and mediation process; and the $4.625 million was the figure that resulted from the compensation of the mediation and the remodel.

Urie says, "Everybody I think is happy with it, we are. I think they are too and we can move on now and start making plans for future programs or expansion."

Along the way, there was a small confrontation at the old clinic regarding some locks on the second floor. For commissioner tom Mikesell, he says he's personally relieved the parties compromised on a solution, calling the process "somewhat strenuous and difficult."

According to Mikesell, "There were issues that reached far beyond what the public knew or heard about. There were issues on public safety, public health and behavioral health. And those issues all had to be addressed on behalf of the citizens of Twin Falls County."