It’s been 17 years, five months and 13 days since Valencia County residents threw their support and votes behind an eight-year increase to their property taxes with the goal of bringing a hospital to the county.

After nearly two decades of lawsuits, arguing, attempted and failed contracts and hard lessons learned, the Valencia County commission approved a trio of agreements that will hopefully see the long-awaited project started and completed.

The commissioners voted 4-0 to award a healthcare facilities contract to Brazos — the joint venture between Texas-based Community Healthcare Corporation and Albuquerque’s Lovelace Health System — for the operation of a Valencia County hospital, at a special meeting, Wednesday, April 24.

Read the full article in the Valencia County News-Bulletin, April 25, 2024.