September 15, 2007
State Senator Donnie Olson welds a cap on one of the foundation pilings. (photo by Bob Herron)
State Senator visits Hooper Bay SRC project
Hooper Bay residents welcomed Alaska State Senator Donnie Olson during a special visit to observe construction progress of the new subregional clinic.
Olson toured the village with Elmer Simon, YKHC Board Member and Tribal Administrator for Hooper Bay Tribal Council; William Naneng, General Manager of Sea Lion Corporation; Gene Peltola, YKHC President/CEO; and other community leaders on Thursday, August 30.
The yearlong construction project began late this summer with local residents in the workforce. The clinic is expected to open in October of 2008. It will be YKHC’s fifth subregional clinic, joining Toksook Bay, St. Mary’s, Emmonak and Aniak.
During the past legislative session, Senator Olson was instrumental in initiating a $1 million appropriation to finish funding for construction of the 14,000 square foot clinic, totaling $8.1 million. The multi-skilled Senator, who is also a licensed physician, even welded the last piling cap on the steel piling foundation installation.
“Without this last one million dollar appropriation, Hooper Bay’s subregional clinic project may have been delayed for several months,” said Gene Peltola, YKHC President/CEO. “The finishing weld on the foundation is an exclamation point to the hard work of our State Senators, including Senate Finance Co-Chair Lyman Hoffman who continues to address the health needs of our region.” Olson and Hoffman serve on the State Finance Committee.
With a population of more than 1,000 residents, Hooper Bay is the largest and fastest growing community in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. The clinic will serve the surrounding villages of Scammon Bay and Chevak, providing patient care services that include preventative and urgent care, diagnostic review, physical exams, prenatal care, minor surgery, laboratory tests, X-rays, and medications. In addition, a six-unit housing complex for staff will be located next to the clinic.