Valdese Councilman Glenn Harvey explores de-annexing Valdese Hospital property

In a Jan. 3 email from his personal Gmail account to all Valdese council members, newly-elected Valdese councilman Glenn Harvey explores the de-annexation of the UNC Health Blue Ridge-Valdese Hospital property. 

The two-page email recommends consideration of “past mistakes… historical basis for past decisions that no longer or (sic) relevant.”

“A future council and legal decision is, can and should Valdese ‘de-annex’ the block on which the hospital and College Pines sits?” he wrote to Council members Gary Ogle, Heather Ward, Paul Mears, Rexanna Lowman, Town Attorney Timothy Swanson and Interim Town Manager Bryan Steen in the email.

When asked to elaborate, Harvey’s only response was, “I have no comment on that. I raised a speculative question and a long-ranged issue with council members.” 

To directly quote his email, Harvey made the following points: 

• No Valdese connection - only three of the current UNC Health Care System live within 100 miles of Valdese (Lenoir, Asheville, Charlotte) and none in Valdese. 

• Neither of the two big parcels pays property taxes to Valdese. The current Burke GIS does not have the hospital listing correct; College Pines is owned by a corporation based in Dallas TX. 

• Valdese police and fire departments must service that block, even with a fire station on the property and a satellite sheriff’s office nearby. 

• The primary justification [for] the “million-dollar,” 75-ft ladder truck was the hospital. 

• How much time and money could Valdese save by “de-annexing” that block of real estate sitting in the middle of RC?

In a paragraph labeled “Historic Sidebar,” Harvey wrote that the hospital was founded by Valdese leaders and was once operated by a board of residents, until 10 years ago. The board has since gone through a series of mergers and is owned by a $6 billion corporation, he wrote in the email.

The concept of de-annexing the hospital property took community leaders, Valdese employees and hospital officials by surprise.

Valdese officials outside the council were excluded from the email list. 

Planning Director Larry Johnson, a veteran of Valdese planning, zoning, voluntary and involuntary annexation projects said he was unaware of the communications.

“I am currently not involved in the de-annexation of hospital property,” Johnson said. 

Response by UNC Health Blue Ridge 

UNC Health Blue Ridge Public Information Office Danette Brackett, after reviewing Harvey’s email, made clear the UNC-Blue Ridge system’s position. 

“We would like to address a couple of points made by Mr. Harvey in an email about the history of Valdese Hospital,” she said. 

• UNC Health Blue Ridge, which includes the Valdese campus and the new $38 million Cancer Center, is owned and governed by a local board made up of Burke County citizens, some of whom live in Valdese.

• UNC Health manages UNC Health Blue Ridge Valdese, UNC Health Blue Ridge Morganton, UNC Health Pardee and UNC Health Appalachian, all within 100 miles of Valdese. UNC Health also owns UNC Health Caldwell, again within 100 miles of Valdese.

• College Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is owned by UNC Health Blue Ridge but managed by SanStone Health and Rehabilitation.”

“For historical reference, Valdese General Hospital was built on land that formerly housed the higher learning institution of Rutherford College. Eastern Burke County has continually supported the hospital and gave money from their own checks to see it built and remain vital to the community,” she said.

“We value our partnerships with Valdese and citizens, and our neighbors in the Town of Rutherford College. We look forward to future conversations on how we can continue to grow and serve the patients in this community while being a part of the Town of Valdese, and to avoid any misunderstandings on our part.”

A surprise to Rutherford College 

Rutherford College’s Town Manager Jessica Bargsley said she was shocked to hear about the possibility of the de-annexation. 

Bargsley said it is up to their council whether the town would annex the property if Valdese de-annexed the area. 

The town does have a portion of water and sewer supply going into the property. If the grounds of the hospital are not annexed, it would become the property of the county without a city designation. 

“If it were to happen, it would be something the town manager and the council would definitely consider annexing,” Bargsley said. 

She said she did not want to discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of annexing the property without first researching the matter. 

Bargsley said that she would mention the de-annexation to the council on their Monday, Jan. 8 monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at 980 Malcolm Blvd.  

Saydie Bean is a general assignment reporter for The Paper. She may be reached at 828-445-8595 or via email at saydie@thepaper.media.