OUR TURN: Scott & White should give local companies a shot in hospital construction
The news that Temple-based Scott & White Healthcare finally plans to break ground for the Lake of the Hills Regional Medical Center on Nov. 16 is welcome indeed.
But the announcement that an Austin contractor will start construction on the initial clinic has many hoping Scott & White will make it a policy to also hire local companies for future work at the site.
The entire project, which eventually includes a hospital in addition to the clinic, is expected to finish in 2020.
That mean there’s plenty of time to bring on Highland Lakes builders, electricians, carpenters and other subcontractors to help with the medical complex.
The project has been a long time coming, with talk of a new hospital going as far back as 2007. After years of negotiations, Scott & White decided to locate the complex on Texas 71 west of U.S. 281.
Scott & White has been a good neighbor and already runs what used to be the Llano Memorial Healthcare System, the hospital in Llano and the valuable Hoerster clinics scattered across the Colorado River basin.
In doing so, they already use plenty of local services to keep those facilities cleaned, supplied and operating.
It’s true DBR Construction of Austin has already proven its efficiency to Scott & White by building the nonprofit health-care company a children’s hospital in its hometown of Temple. That’s why they were hired for the Marble Falls medical center.
And it’s also true there are few businesses locally that can handle such a big project on their own.
However, there are plenty of good smaller companies right here in the Highland Lakes that are more than capable of tackling this project as subcontractors.
Scott & White should keep that in mind as construction progresses.
The Highland Lakes are home to builders, construction firms and general contractors who have created reputations for success far and wide.
The roster of the Building Industry Association of the Highland Lakes provides ample proof of a ready supply of professionals.
More than likely, DBR will use local subcontractors for much of the initial work.
But as time goes on, local government officials and Scott & White should both pledge to ensure Highland Lakes businesses are given plenty of opportunities to participate in further construction.
After all, the city of Marble Falls — and its taxpayers — have already extended water and wastewater lines to the site, as well as built a water tower for the project.
When Scott & White honchos originally revealed their plans to begin Lake of the Hills, they indicated local services and businesses would be used whenever possible.
The health-care company now has ample opportunity to carry through on that commitment.
Meanwhile, it would be hard to find someone who isn’t happy the hospital is coming. It promises to create a $200-million, 60-bed facility at the crossroads of Central Texas that eventually could employ up to 150 people, including new doctors.
The health-care company should always use the principle of “hire local” whenever possible to guide them as the project continues during the next nine years.