The Orange City Council approved a resolution supporting the creation of a hospital district, but the vote was not unanimous.
Single-member District 3 Councilor Essie Bellfield opposed the district. Bellfield is retired and worked years in the housekeeping department at the old Orange Memorial Hospital, which later became Baptist Hospital-Orange. Bellfield said no one knows hospitals like she.
Baptist closed the hospital in-patient services two years ago and earlier this month closed the emergency room. Orange County and cities across the county are trying to get a special hospital district formed. The taxing district would build a new hospital. Voters must approve the creation.
City Economic Development Director Jay Trahan said the state legislature can approve the special district creation or citizens can petition to call an election. The city’s resolution will help to support the effort in the legislature.
In other business, the council renewed the curfew for kids age 16 and younger. Police Chief Lane Martin said the council needs to vote on the curfew every three years.
He said during the past three years, police issued 15 citations for violations. The previous three years 45 citations were issued. He said officers give warnings. Pinehurst and West Orange have similar ordinances.
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