In-city rates could save hospital $100 thousand annually

The savings that Oconee Memorial could realize if the hospital properties are annexed to Seneca could exceed $100 thousand a year, according to a statement today from Hunter Kome, chief operating officer for the hospital. Kome gives further details of a unanimous vote taken Monday by the hospital Holdings Board which must be approved by Prisma Health leadership before a formal request is made of city government. Kome’s statement further reads: “Because the hospital campus receives water and sewer service from Seneca Light and Water, annexation is projected to save Prisma Health more than $100 thousand per year in fees, due to the lower rates for businesses within city limits. The approximately 170-acre OMH campus sits at the intersection of two major highways. Due to state laws governing annexation, the city of Seneca cannot grow down the hospital side of either of those highways without annexing the hospital campus. In addition to providing water and sewer services, Seneca Light and Water provides electricity for the hospital campus. The city also supports Oconee County in providing fire protection services for the hospital.” The hospital statement quotes Mayor Dan Alexander as saying, “The City of Seneca has always considered the hospital to be part of the Seneca community. The annexation will only make it official. Our partnership will continue as always and we are proud to consider Prisma Health part of the City of Seneca.” After the city receives the petition, the next step will be for Seneca to hold a public hearing. After that, the city council would vote on the annexation. More than 15 years ago, an attempt by Seneca to annex west to include the OMH and Wal-Mart erupted into controversy and litigation. The city and the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative became sparring partners over which of the two could serve electricity to Wal-Mart. That issue was decided by a 2002 judge’s ruling that ordered the electric service contract account switched from Seneca to Blue Ridge.