Minutes 07/27/1971 - Laserfiche WebLink

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')J - ... TUESDAY JULY 28, 1971 ....-. Our reason for appearing before Council tonight is to express The Chamber's immediate positive reaction and to determing if, in fact, the City wishes us to pursue this project on behalf of the citizens of Martinsville and Henry County. ....- The Chamber agrees with the Trustees and the medical staff that the site offered by Memorial Hospital more than adequately meets all of the requirements stipulated by the State. We feel that this facility would be a most tremendous asset for our communities health program for years to come. Our doctors and health officials are acutely cognizant of our critical and ever-expanding needs in attacking mental health problems. Our area has a desperate need for both trained psychiatrists and psychologists, who would be staffing the proposed hospital. We feel, furthermore, that the central location of the proposed site would most effectively serve the peoples of Danville and Pittsylvania County to the East, Rocky Mount and Franclin County to the North, and Stuart and Patrick County to the West. Our new highway system now underway, through fore-thought and planning by the City; already puts this property in convenient accessability to everyone, and, again through your forethought, more than adequate utilities are already available. The stipulation that the site be in reasonable proximity to a medical facility could not be better fulfilled, in reference to its location near our new 223-bed hospital, of which we in Martinsville and Henry County are justly proud. Gentlemen, the energies of your Chamber of Commerce are at your disposal in this matter. Col. Walter E. Mather, Executive Director of the West Piedmont Planning District Commission, then informed Council that his agency will assemble all presentations from the several governmental jurisdictions within the District and forward to the State Health Department on August 20th without comment or recommendation, although at a later date the District Commission may be asked for a specific recommendation as to location. Subsequently, upon motion (duly seconded and unanimously carried), Council went on record as being heartily in favor of acquiring the proposed facility for the Martinsville area and, also, as designating the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce as the agency to assume the responsibility of coordinating all efforts toward obtaining the proposed hospital for the Martinsville area. Meanwhile, Council acknowledged with appreciation the interest and efforts of all parties concerned in this matter, with special acknowledgment to the Chamber of Commerce and to the Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees.