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Marion council ends talks with potential hospital buyer
BY BECKY MALKOVICH, THE SOUTHERN
Monday, January 5, 2009 11:05 PM CST
MARION - The fate of the old Marion Memorial Hospital building is once again in limbo, although judging from discussion at Monday's Marion City Council meeting, that fate will soon be sealed.

California investor Bruce Harrell, who represents Viamar Trading Co., attended the meeting in an attempt to gain an extension of a Dec. 31 make-or-break deadline issued by the council to receive payment on the property.

Harrell previously said he was trying to get a $6 million loan to purchase the hospital and make renovations necessary for an assisted living center or some other type of facility that would meet the needs of senior or disabled citizens.

Given the state of the nation's economy, Harrell said banks are reluctant to give loans right now. He said previously he might trim the loan amount to $3 million to expedite the purchase.

However, after meeting with Harrell in an executive session, Mayor Bob Butler announced, "We were unable to come to a satisfactory conclusion. I think the hospital is still for sale but at this point, does anyone have a motion to terminate discussion with Bruce Harrell?"

The vote to end discussions with Harrell was unanimous.

Commissioner Bob Owens said he would like to see the council proceed with demolition of at least some portions of the old hospital. He suggested the council ask for bids to tear down the property.

Owens said the city's taxpayers have sunk $1 million into the property in the past five years.

"There is no reason we should keep throwing Marion citizens' money into that well" Owens said.

Butler asked Owens to put his motion into writing to be acted upon at the next council meeting.

beckymalk@gmail.com / 927-5633

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emax_1 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:42 AM:

" The Marion Daily indicated in their story that Mr. Harrell had put up $50,000 in earnest money...Where's the follow-up on that. IMHO that is money he should forfeit for wating Marion's time for the past few months. "

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GentryEqualsForby wrote on Jan 6, 2009 11:57 PM:

" It was Bob Owens that asked the rest of the city commission, months ago, to start the demolition of the hospital complex. If you remember, Butler and Goss derided and scolded Owens for this suggestion. Now, they think it's a great idea! Bob Owens MUST win in April. Goss must lose. "

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GentryEqualsForby wrote on Jan 6, 2009 11:54 PM:

" Great suggestion, and a sensible suggestion, 4truth----but it will never happen. Remember, John Goss is on both the Marion City Council and the Williamson County Public Commission. The new administrative building is the result of misplaced priorities, especially when we need a new jail. Regardless, the safety of the county's residents and jail staff are secondary to the building of this playhouse for Goss', Jerald Kobler's, and Brent Gentry's buddies. I hope that everyone remember's Goss' role in this ridiculous waste of money in the April election. "

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Gotway wrote on Jan 6, 2009 5:18 PM:

" "Butler asked Owens to put his motion into writing to be acted upon at the next council meeting."

Can you imagine the outrage if BUTTler was asked to do that? He and his hillbilly cronies would throw a fit. "

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4truth wrote on Jan 6, 2009 4:05 PM:

" Why don't the City of Marion donate the building to the County for their new administrative building and save the taxpayers 7 million dollars? "

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SDA wrote on Jan 6, 2009 2:47 PM:

" Maybe Ron Osman can be the "expert" and lead them in the right direction!!! "

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emax_1 wrote on Jan 6, 2009 11:11 AM:

" I believe that Mr. Harrell put down $25,000 in earnest money.....What's going to happen to that. I really don't think he should get it back after dragging his feet after this long period. The city needs a good real estate expert to deal with these situations. "

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CrealCritter wrote on Jan 6, 2009 10:42 AM:

" A (rare) good move on the city’s part. I think Harrell and his fly-by-night company was doing nothing more than leading the city and the tax-payers on. I question just exactly what their intentions were and whether or not he would have ever been able to make the purchase. I think the worst part about all of this is that the city council and mayor allowed this to drag on for as long as it did. That $1 million dollars that was “sunk into the property” over that 5 year period will more than likely never be recovered. I think the best thing to do at this point would be to tear the thing down and try to sell the vacant lot. That old building is out-dated anyway, and I doubt anyone besides a crook like Harrell would want to buy it. "

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madblogger wrote on Jan 6, 2009 10:16 AM:

" I'd like to know exactly what that 1 million dollars purchased, or where it was spent. "

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Aunt Bessie wrote on Jan 6, 2009 8:30 AM:

" The million bucks spent on upkeep was probably a good investment, when compared to having a slum lord trying to operate this facility. "

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