Multimillion Dollar Hospital Project Moves Ahead

Ames City Council members made way for a $129 million hospital expansion project Tuesday, the same day the community said project that would update and replace city elementary schools.

The City Council unanimously allowed Mary Greeley Medical Center to issue $65 million worth of revenue bonds, following a brief public hearing on the matter.

The city is under no obligation to repay the funds, but had to approve the bonds for the project because the city code doesn't give Mary Greeley Medical Center Board of Trustees the authority to make that decision.

Council members approved the measure without discussion Tuesday, but discussed many other topics including a new logo and tagline for the city and a bond referendum for the Ames Public Library.

Michael Tretina, Mary Greeley's
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, gave a brief presentation on the bonds during the hearing. He was the only person who spoke.

He said the money for the rest of the project would come from the hospital's foundation and its operating budget.

“There are no tax revenues from the city of Ames involved,” Tretina said.