July 12, 2019
Marshfield Clinic
Health System hosted the topping off ceremony July 12, for what will be
Marshfield Medical Center-Minocqua hospital. Chief Medical Officer William
Melms, M.D., began the ceremony with a speech that signified the accomplishment
of building a new hospital.
"You never know when things are going to remain on schedule, if there's going to be any hiccups or anything, and there has not been," said Dr. Melms. "We are right on schedule with this."
After starting construction in April 2019, the Boldt Company's construction crews finished seven of the 12 concrete pours, have all the footings and foundations done, and are working on exterior walls. Health System employees and community members who attended the ceremony were invited to sign a symbolic I-beam and enjoyed a barbecue cookout.
"Their commitment is here, and they've just been such a critical part of our community," said Mark Hartzheim, Minocqua town chairman, about the Health System's presence in Minocqua.
Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce Director Krystal Westfahl added that the new hospital has a chance to move the area forward with services they need to have. She also thinks it could attract more visitors to become permanent residents.
"The fact that we can see growth happening in our community and so, I think, all of the businesses, generally speaking, certainly are interested in how our community is going to prosper in the future," she said.
