Hospital Payment Delayed
Constitution-Tribune
Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Last week’s election in which Chillicothe voters turned down the proposal to use funds from an existing capital improvement sales tax to help build a new hospital is over, yet bills still need to be paid to the consulting firm that conducted the feasibility study for building a new hospital. But, before Chillicothe City Council members signed off on results of that election — in which the proposal failed with 873 YES votes and 920 NO votes — the council reviewed invoices received by WIPFLI Consultants.

The city has already paid around $115,000 to WIPFLI, and another batch of invoices amounting to around $21,000 were considered for payment during the council’s regular workshop meeting Monday night at City Hall. However, instead of approving the most recent batch of invoices, the council decided to request from WIPFLI detailed information about the invoices. This decision was made after concerned resident Patricia Anderson, who had chaired a committee to defeat the hospital ballot issue, asked council members for details on not only the last batch of invoices but all WIPFLI invoices that have been submitted to the city.

The city of Chillicothe entered into an agreement for professional services with WIPFLI in July 2009 with a maximum price tag of $188,300. Council members decided to seek details about all invoices before making any more payments.

During the regular meeting Monday night, the council unanimously confirmed the mayoral appointment of Charles Meek to the Golf Advisory Board.

In executive session, the council unanimously approved the hiring of Donald Vandevender of Trenton to become the city's Code Enforcement Officer. Duties of this position had been carried out by Gil Gates who was terminated from this position last year and are currently being handled through Ron Urton of the city's contracted engineering firm of Shafer, Kline, and Warren. City Administrator Dean Brookshier said that Shafer, Kline, and Warren will continue handling the planning and zoning responsibilities and that they will be phased into Vandevender's job description. Vandevender will be paid $27,500 annually and become eligible for an increase to $28,000 within six months. He is to begin his duties on March 1. Vandevender has operated his own construction business since 1974.