SIDNEY — Sidney City Council received several updates on various issues and programs during its first workshop session of the year on Monday evening.
The first presentation was given by Wilson Health President/CEO Mark Dooley on Wilson Health’s happenings. Dooley discussed Wilson’s place as an independent system and the importance of remaining independent for reinvestment to “continue to be a valuable part of the community.”
“We need to make decisions here locally with our ward, without influence from anybody else of how we reinvest our money. What is the best way to utilize it, for Sidney, for Shelby County, for this area,” Dooley said.
He also explained the importance of partnering with larger hospitals for providing advanced care as key to remain relevant and thrive among the highly competitive larger merging hospital systems. He pinpointed several things to allow Wilson to remain independent, including:
• Focusing on what Wilson does well, including the basics of the emergency department, of primary care, general medicine and general surgery.
• Embracing the right partnerships for access to the “right place, for the right service, at the right time.”
• Necessity to cut or eliminate waste to provide the highest quality at the lowest cost.
• Prepare for the future, as healthcare is more uncertain than ever with the constant need to keep up with modern technology, and even potential future changes with Obamacare — and how it will affect Wilson financially.
• Valuable part of the community, as Wilson is the fourth largest employer in Shelby County.
“We are more convenient for our community than the larger systems are. … We have about a $30 million dollar a year payroll,” Dooley said.
Among improvements Dooley boasted was the drop in the amount of people who left the emergency room before they were seen, likely due to wait time. The numbers dramatically dropped from 66 walk-outs a month in 2014, down to 26 a month in 2015, down to 7.5 a month in 2016. He said the ER wait time dropped from 20 minutes in 2014, down to approximately 7 minutes in 2016.
Dooley also said the independent group that judges hospital’s quality care, the Leapfrog Group, gave Wilson an “A.”
Mayor Mike Barhorst asked Dooley if there was anything he could tell council about the potential future cancer treatment center hopefully coming to Sidney. Dooley said there is mutual interests on both sides for Wilson Health and The James, the Ohio State University’s comprehensive cancer center in Columbus, for a potential partnership to bring an outpatient center to Sidney. He said they hope to get agreements signed in the next few months but it is “not going to be a quick process.” The local outpatient treatment center would offer chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and patients could receive the same treatment here in Sidney as is Columbus.
The second presentation council heard was about Shelby County’s new 2-1-1 human service information and referral system by Shelby County United Way Executive Director Scott Barr.
Barr said 2-1-1 is an easy number to call to “reach certified specialists who are trained to assess the situation, help the caller problem-solve, discuss options and identify the most appropriate resources.” He said it is available in all 50 states and has been around for 100 years with the primary goal of “bringing people and services together.”
Callers in need can get answers and be connected about any subject, from food, rent and utility assistance, to counseling, domestic violence and senior services, to transportation, senior services or help in a disaster.
City Manager Mark Cundiff told council, “The 2-1-1 service is a collaborative effort of Sidney, Shelby County Commissioners, Sidney-Shelby County Health Department, Shelby County Job and Family Services, Shelby County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services and the United Way.”
One important point to note is that if the caller’s phone does not come from For more information on 2-1-1 visit www.211.org or call 855-663-8333.
In other business, Law Director Jeffrey Amick told council after his recent review of the council’s rules, last amended in 2016, there was no need for changes.
Amick also provided council with the annual review of the Sidney Charter. He said the same potential amendments as were suggested in 2016 and several previous years could be made, but are not necessary.
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Gary Clough provided council with the curb and gutter program updates. Clough said most of the work is “adjacent to private driveways that by code would require the abutting property owner to replace.” Approximately 17,157 lineal feet of curb and gutter will need replaced in 2017. About 3,064 lineal feet is in front of driveways that need to be replaced by residents, or assessed to them as part of the city’s project.
He said based on last year’s contract prices, the program is estimated to cost $700,000, of which $125,000 is adjacent to driveways.
Cundiff added the city will begin the Christmas tree pick-up starting on Monday.
Councilmembers Steve Wagner and Darryl Thurber were absent and were excused by council.
Cundiff said the upcoming Zoning Board/Planning Commission Agenda for Tuesday, Jan. 17, is cancelled, as there are no applications. He also reviewed the prospective City Council Agenda items for the next 30 days. In addition, they held an executive session for a pending or imminent court action and the discipline of a public official/employee.
