Grafton hospital gets endorsement

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 14, 2007

By LAWRENCE SUSSMAN

Grafton - In a meeting packed with residents asking about plans for a new hospital and medical building, the Plan Commission on Thursday night endorsed four measures that Aurora Health Care needs to build them.

The special meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd of about 100 people, and for about an hour, people asked how the medical center would affect life in Grafton. Village officials assured the audience the changes would mostly be for the better.

At the end of the public comments and some questions by commissioners, the commission unanimously recommended that the Village Board approve annexing a little more than 80 acres of Aurora-owned land, of which 66 acres would be used for the medical center. The panel also unanimously endorsed the rezoning of these 66 acres for a planned unit development.

In a 5-2 vote, the commission supported a site plan for the medical center. Commissioners Randy Silasiri and Al Schlecht voted no because they wanted more time to nail down the plan details. But Aurora spokesman Michael Scholl of the Hammes Co. said Aurora hopes to break ground for the center by late next summer. Delaying the site plan approval, he said, "would put us at a standstill."

The panel also unanimously recommended the approval of two certified survey maps. .

The Village Board will have the final say on the recommendations Monday night.

Village officials told the audience they have reached a proposed agreement with Aurora that commits the nonprofit corporation to pay about $6.8 million to the village over the next 25 years for village services and expanding village facilities. The sum includes annual payments for services, instead of taxes, ranging from $115,875 next year to $180,250 in 2024.

In addition, the agreement says Aurora will make a contribution of $1,944,125 toward constructing a new public works facility and a second contribution of $1,416,250 toward a Village Hall addition.