Planning Commission tries again

The Alva Planning Commission will have another chance to make a recommendation on the Integris Healthcare application this week. A special meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers at City Hall.

When Integris made an application for a healthcare facility in Alva last year, the Alva Planning Commission recommended to not approve the permit, required under Alva Ordinance No. 2014-046. In a split vote, the Alva City Council then turned down the application.

Integris made another application this year, and the city again undertook the process of a feasibility study. In a June special meeting with four members present and two absent, the Alva Planning Commission ended with a tie vote – two voting against the Integris application, one in favor and one abstaining. During the meeting, questions were raised about the brief time Integris had between receiving the feasibility study and the meeting.

In order to give Integris more time to respond, and hopefully to produce a non-tie recommendation from the Planning Commission, the city decided to give the commission another chance. In the interim, the commission members were asked to submit written questions for Integris. Then Integris was given time to respond.

With a recommendation from the Thursday meeting, the Alva City Council will be able to hold the final vote on the issue at their Sept. 19 meeting. City Business Manager Joe Don Dunham has said that Sept. 19 is the last date to make a decision on the application, according to the time period set forth in the ordinance.