New Castle News

Local News

Discussion

January 11, 2012

Jameson asks city to reduce fees

John K. Manna New Castle News

NEW CASTLE — Jameson Health System has appealed to New Castle city officials to reduce the inspection fees for its emergency room project.

Doug Danko, Jameson’s president and chief executive officer, presented the health system’s case to city council at its work session Tuesday night.

The total construction cost for the expanded emergency room and revamped surgical department at the hospital on Wilmington Avenue is approximately $17 million.

The city assesses 1 percent of the construction cost for a building permit plus has an inspection fee. Inspections of building constructions are conducted for the city by Pennsylvania Construction Inspection of Edinburg.

The fees for the Jameson project total $248,000.

Danko explained how operating revenues for Jameson have declined from $110 million in 2009 to $107 million last year while charity care provided by the hospital has gone up from $14.8 million in 2008 to $20.8 million last year.

He said Jameson does not believe the fees to be “fair and equitable.” The contractor, he said, had built in a lower estimate for the fees.

Nonetheless, Danko added, “We agreed to send in the $248,000 with a letter of protest to try and reconcile” to make the fees more rational.

He asked council to consider including the inspection fee in the $175,000 for the permit and return approximately $75,000 to Jameson. Danko said Jameson believes the 1 percent should include the inspection fee.

Reimbursing Jameson, he said, would help it avoid cutting something out of the project, which is expected to be completed in about a year.

If council agrees to pay the $75,000 back, the city would then have to pay PCI the $75,000 for the inspection, leaving the city with a net of approximately $95,000, according to business administrator Stephanie Dean.

Council plans to vote on the matter at its regular meeting Thursday night.

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • Corvi.jpg News, Herald to launch Business Chronicle

    You will find in Monday’s edition of the New Castle News a magazine called the Mercer-Lawrence County Business Chronicle.
    The News is joining forces with our sister paper, The  Herald in Sharon, which has been producing the Business Chronicle in Mercer County for six years.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • DYM.jpg Meet the 2013 contestants for Lawrence County Distinguished Young Women

    The 2013 Distinguished Young Women Program will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday in Westminster College’s Orr Auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door. Here's your chance to meet all of this year's contestants.
     

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • City Council Briefs: Firm to provide city hall security

    New Castle City Council approved an agreement last night with a Butler firm to provide armed security at city hall. Security Service’s fee is $16 per hour under a seven-month agreement, which will run through the end of this year.

    May 25, 2012

  • Offices to be closed Memorial Day

    Local government offices and other agencies will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. They include:

    May 25, 2012

  • McDonald.jpg Ellwood City’s fire chief resigns

    A 9-year-old boy with spinal meningitis opened his eyes when he heard a fire siren. As longtime colleague Don Ries tells it, the siren was calling Ellwood City volunteers to a shed fire at the B&O Railroad freight station.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • gavel.jpg Council considers board compromise

    New Castle City Council talked of possible compromise Tuesday night regarding the status of the city’s Historical Architectural Review Board.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Neshannock to pave streets this summer

    The Neshannock Township supervisors will spend $208,226 to pave roads this summer. The supervisors last night selected Youngblood Paving of Wampum for the project as the lowest of four bidders. Greg DelPrincipe of RAR Engineering opened and tallied the bids.

    May 24, 2012

  • Custer.jpg Pastor attains master chaplain status

    The Rev. Tod Custer has attained a master chaplain certificate from the International Conference Police Chaplains. Ellwood City Mayor Anthony J. Court recently recognized Custer, an Ellwood City police chaplain, for his achievement.
    Custer will receive his certification in Spokane, Wash.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Improvements set for Little Beaver bridge

    Improvements to a bridge that carries Huston Road over Little Beaver Creek in Little Beaver Township are to begin Tuesday. Huston Road will be closed between Route 351 and Scott Wallace Road beginning at 7 a.m. The road will be closed through late August.

    May 23, 2012

  • Mahoning gets sewer tap-in grant

     The Mahoning Township supervisors have received a $500,000 block grant to help residents tap into the new sewer system. Supervisor Vito Yeropoli, who is also sanitation plant secretary/manager, said the township was notified of the grant Monday.

    May 23, 2012