Cobblestone Court discussed

Plans to move forward with an outpatient center were discussed Tuesday morning during the Sierra View Local Health Care District Board of Directors regular meeting.

“We have two sites — Westwood and Cobblestone — but today we’ll concentrate on Cobblestone,” said SVDH CEO Joseph Stewart.

Stewart and Mike Kobale, director of facilities, talked to the Board and hospital’s senior management about the probable cost of completing the Cobblestone complex to include two medical suites and a physical therapy suite.

“We’ve started getting ball park figures on how much it can cost us,” Stewart said. “We own the place but basically it’s all shells. Right now there’s dirt on the floor — so very easy to go in and not have to change it out.”

The complex has a right and a left component with a covered courtyard separating the two, and a larger building behind it, Steward said, with the cost for completing it, estimated at $756,000, or an approximate $108 per square foot.

Stewart addressed the parking issue and suggested several ideas for expanding it, including purchasing the vacant lot adjacent to the facility.

A discussion also ensued on the suggestion of the complex serving the need for orthopedic, geriatrics and wound care.

Though he does not recommend a “Build it and they will come” mentality, Stewart did say one way to offer the complex is by offering options — from reasonable to expensive — in completing the building.

Floor plans handed out showed five exam rooms, bathrooms, an office, records and break rooms, receptionist area and a lobby for each of the two wings. In addition, one site showed a dark room and radiology area, while the other had a supplies room and a second office.

Estimated cost is $221,000 and an additional $27,625 contingency per suite. The physical therapy building is estimated to cost $230,000, and $28,750 contingency.

Regardless of the options, work needs to begin soon, said board member Brent Gill.

“We’ve owned this building for several months and the activity has been limited,” Gill said. “Sierra View needs to show the community that we’re moving forward.”

Kobale reported that the hospital has recently hired a journeyman level carpenter, apprentice and electrician.

“They have been here for two weeks and have completed two projects in house,” Kobale said and added that they were obtained with the upcoming projects in mind.

The hospital also has a plumber, he said, and as such, would save time and money with moving forward with the work that needs to be completed on the complex.

“We’d like to come back next month and proceed,” Stewart said. “The sooner to market, the better off. That’s my goal — to decide at the next meeting.”

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045. Follow her on Twitter @Avila_recorder.