PINEDALE – The proposed critical access hospital and assisted living facility moved closer to becoming a reality at the Hospital District Board of Trustees’ June 16 meeting.

The trustees voted to accept a bid from Layton Construction in Sandy, Utah, to be the district’s construction manager as contractor at a June 9 special meeting, pending approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Board chairwoman Tonia Hoffman announced on June 16 that the USDA had endorsed the contract with Layton. Hoffman told the board that Layton was ready to get to work as quickly as possible and planned to break ground in late August.

The Sublette Center announced a breakthrough in the merger with the hospital district on June 16. This is a significant step because the previous memorandum of understanding was between the Sublette Center and the Sublette County Rural Health Care District, not the hospital district.

Patty Racich, chair of the Sublette Center board, announced that her board met that morning and formally agreed to move forward with the merger.

The Sublette Center board authorized Dawn Walker, the center’s administrator, and other employees to begin preparing the center’s employees for the merger, Racich said.

“We’ve put our best foot forward and we’re ready to go,” Racich added.

Hoffman stated that attorneys for both entities were collaborating on the remaining legal hurdles for the union.

The Hospital District trustees passed a resolution following Racich’s announcement to “take the necessary steps” to formalize a merger with the Sublette Center.

Dave Doorn, SCRHCD administrative director, updated the board on the remaining steps needed to submit the USDA loan application. Eide Bailly’s final financial forecast was undergoing last revisions, he said. The revenue outlook for Sublette County had improved, leading Eide Bailly to forecast a better debt-to-income ratio for the district, Doorn explained.

Mike Hunsaker, chief operating officer for the hospital district and Star Valley Health, told the board that his management team was pleased with Eide Bailly’s forecast and expected the document’s completion by the end of the week.

The only remaining hurdle is an agreement with the Highland Irrigation District. Doorn stated that the SCRHCD attorney, Rachel Weksler, was working hard with the irrigation district and Jorgensen’s to finalize the contract.

The Hospital District and SCRHCD boars both passed resolutions transferring all policies, responsibilities, obligations and duties from the SCRHCD to the Hospital District effective June 30.