Congratulations Lincoln on 10 years of the new Parker Medical Center

February 22, 2021 marks the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the new building at Parker Medical Center! The Parker Medical Center was created by and is sustained by the people of Lincoln.

The people of Lincoln, Montana have a long history of seeking medical services for the Lincoln area as exhibited by the ad placed in a newspaper that brought Dr. Elmer Smith from New York to Lincoln in 1957. That good doctor served Lincoln for twenty-five years until he retired at the age of ninety-four.

In 1984, Daryl Parker donated a house with land to be used as a medical clinic. For many years the Blackfoot Valley Medical Services Association raised funds through the Blackfoot Valley Art Auction to aid in the search of medical services for Lincoln. Through the work and fundraising of the BVMSA, the Parker Medical Center was renovated and an addition was added. Over time this wonderful Parker gift was no longer adequate for Lincoln's medical needs.

The Lincoln Hospital District was created under state law in 2007 by a vote of the people of Lincoln to carry on the work of the BVMSA. After much research, discussion and arguing, the people of Lincoln affirmed the decision of the LHD to build a new Parker Medical Center building on the same grounds as the original building by voting two mill levies against themselves in 2008. The first is a 15 year levy of approximately 21.57 mills per year for construction of the new building. The second is an ongoing levy of approximately 1.83 mills for administration and maintenance of Parker Medical Center. Check your property tax bill for your contribution to this great effort.

The LHD raised money and obtained a USDA loan in 2010 for the balance of the construction costs of the new Parker Medical Center building.. The $515,000 loan is for a term of 20 years at a fixed interest rate of 4.125 percent. The monthly USDA Loan payments are $4,386 and the transfer of $350 a month into a restricted account to secure the loan are paid with the receipts from the construction levy. The loan is expected to be paid off in late 2023 and the construction levy will cease. The maintenance mill levy, which raises a little over $5,000 a year, will continue. The LHD mill levy receipts and expenditures are handled through the Lewis & Clark County Treasurer, as are the elections of LHD trustees.

The following twenty-five Lincoln people have or are serving as LHD Trustees: Brent Anderson; Jim Bosshardt, Emily Greiner, Ken Lumpkin, Ann Pryor, Becky Tweet; Mike Grimes, Becky Garland; Jim Frisbee; Brian Sholder; Bud Williams; Laura Bullis; Sharon Bickel; Carla Anderson; Michele Kegel; Jerry Cain; Jim Agner*; Karen Frank-Plumlee*; Shane Brown; Mary Anne Brown; Terry Spath; Judy Spath; Tracy Daniel*; Josh Lattin* and Sherri Wood*. (Those with an asterisk are current LHD Trustees).

PureView (previously named Cooperative Health Center) out of Helena has been Lincoln's medical services provider since 1996 through a $1 a year lease agreement. Doctors Courtney Crowel and Justin Smith were Lincoln's medical providers at Parker Medical Center when the new building opened. We are extremely grateful for Lanna Zobel DNP, FNP-C, who is our current medical provider.

When the new Parker Medical Center building was completed, the old building became vacant. For more complete medical services at Parker Medical Center, an agreement was made with the Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance for the LVA to use the original Parker Medical Center building for $1 per year, and the LVA built a garage to house its vehicles on the west side of the property.

The LHD had hoped to have a February 2021 celebration to mark the 10th Anniversary of the new Parker Medical Building. COVID-19 has put a damper on that. Looking ahead, we hope that at the end of 2023 we can gather the Lincoln community on the grounds at Parker Medical Center, roast hot dogs and burn the mortgage. Watch for the date. In the meantime call PureView at Parker Medical Center for your health needs.