Saline County delays acting on HMC bond request

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">HARRISBURG &ndash; The Saline County Board declined to move forward with a bond request from Harrisburg Medical Center Thursday, after State's Attorney Mike Henshaw recommended acquiring more information.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">HMC had approached the county about serving as an issuing authority for a bond request to help fund HMC's ongoing expansion project, Henshaw said. That expansion project includes a new operating room, a reorganized emergency room and changes to the hospitals services area.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Henshaw said becoming involved in a bond issue is not something into which the county should rush.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">&ldquo;When you get into bond law, it is very sophisticated and very specialized,&rdquo; Henshaw said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Henshaw said in his opinion, the county did not have answers to some questions regarding potential changes in the hospital's status.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">&ldquo;What we've talked about is a not-for-profit hospital. What if it went private? What if there was a default? What kind of input would we have on it?&rdquo; Henshaw asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Henshaw introduced Harrisburg City Finance Commissioner Richard Harper, who said HMC also had approached the city regarding a bond issue. Harper said city council also was pursuing answers to questions like Henshaw presented.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">&ldquo;Michael Stewart with Raymond James has been asked to take this question to their lawyers,&rdquo; Harper told the board. &ldquo;We don't have enough information.&rdquo;

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Stephen Karns said he was concerned that the county being an issuing authority for such a project could put the county in a bind.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">&ldquo;If we needed to make a major capital improvement, we might not be able to issue other bonds,&rdquo; Karns said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Henshaw advised the board to work in tandem with his office toward any potential bond issues.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">&ldquo;I recommend we proceed slowly and go through my office,&rdquo; Henshaw said.