By Tyler Lamb
Editor
Ground was officially broken Monday morning at the site of the new Aurora Health Center, celebrating what Sen. Neal Kedzie called “an investment” in Walworth County.
Foundation work has already begun for the 30,000-square-foot, $12-million walk-in health center that will house services such as Audiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Otolaryngology, Urologym, as well as a prescription drug dispensing center.
The ceremony took place at Aurora’s new site, 201 E. Morrissey Drive. The health center is expected to come online by the end of 2013, according to Adam Beeson, public relations manager for Aurora Health Care.
Special guests included Aurora’s board of directors, members of the Elkhorn Common Council and Walworth County Board of Supervisors, state officials, as well as architects and contractors associated with the project’s construction.
“Today really is a celebration. It’s about our commitment to the patients, the community we’re in, how we make a difference and, in the end, helping patients live well,” said Nick Turkal, president and CEO of Aurora Health Care. “You’ll hear that theme over and over because the trend we believe in going forward is to help people achieve the best state wellness they possibly can.”
For his part, Alderman Gary Payson touted the facility’s location and said it positioned the city for continued economic growth.
“It’s a very special day for me … 20 years ago, when this was an open field, we decided to spend $1 million to buy what was known as a grant farm. It extended from here all the way up to Remer Road. At the time my constituents said ‘you’re nuts.’ Maybe we aren’t,” Payson smiled.
“This corner, from day one, was always designated for a jewel. We had many offers to purchase it in the 90s for self-storage and other small businesses. We said ‘no, we want a jewel,’” he continued. “We wanted something on the corner of this park that demonstrates what the City of Elkhorn is all about. Aurora Health Care has made my life complete. It’s a wonderful day for me. The vision we had came true. We will have a jewel here long after I’m gone.”
Sen. Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) praised the vast resources Aurora will bring to the citizens of Walworth County.
“Having lived in Walworth County for nearly 40 years I can remember a time when we didn’t have much opportunity to have options for our health care,” he said. “We drove long distances for a routine checkup or health care, and the fact we have an opportunity to have Aurora investing means a lot us, means a lot to my constituents and it means a lot to Elkhorn.”
At present, it is not know how many, if any, jobs the new facility will bring to the area.
Aurora Health Care is an integrated not-for-profit health care provider with more than 150 facilities throughout eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
