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Dominion Energy keeps on giving to Bucktail Medical Center

KEVIN RAUCH/THE EXPRESS Bucktail’s Administrator Tim Reeves accepts a check from Dominion Energy in the amount of $25,000 as part of an ongoing relationship between western Clinton County’s two biggest employers. Handing the check to Reeves is Missy Pentz, with fellow employees in the back, from left, Mike Tolomay, Steve Kisko, Manager of Operations Aaron Hughes, John Carter and Barry Tripp.

By KEVIN RAUCH

Special For The Express

RENOVO — It’s been a perfect match as western Clinton County’s two biggest employers have been teaming up quite often over the last couple of years and every resident for many miles around is benefitting from the partnership.

As the Bucktail Medical Center now celebrates its one-year anniversary from exiting bankruptcy, the beloved hospital understandably has had some lean years. Assistance on any kind has not only been appreciated but often necessary and Dominion Energy has come forth in a big way.

Highlighted by a pair of $25,000 grants through the Dominion Charitable Foundation, the partnership between Dominion and the BMC has extended much deeper than the monetary donations and has allowed upgrades that simply would not have happened were it not for Dominion Energy and their employees.

Bucktail’s Administrator/Chief Executive Tim Reeves explains that the BMC has two maintenance employees so when Dominion is able to free up as many as 41 of their employees to travel on site in South Renovo for a work day, the progress is literally being made could take the BMC a year, assuming that they even have the capabilities which isn’t always the case.

The BMC was recently forced to upgrade their water heating system- a 40-year old 1$ million BTU oil burner. The stacks that were on the roof needed to be removed but were wrapped in concrete and aluminum.

Enter Dominion employees and their 10 ton crane.

Other work days have seen Dominion employees paint the center of the BMC, overhaul the lobby area, nurses station and reception desk, clean out and organize two storage containers and mechanical room, power wash the outside of the BMC, repair the road to Stellfox’s Pond and get lights and receptacles to the pavilion near the pond among many other general maintenance accomplishments that Reeves can seemingly name for days.

Additional good fortunes have come to the BMC just by the workers’ presence. During one volunteer day a few noticed the shape of the BMC’s maintenance truck- a 1991 pickup. A few months later one of Dominion’s decommissioned 2006 GMC’s arrived in South Renovo.

A previous $25,000 grant from Dominion helped to really jump start the BMC’s CT scanner-something that had been at the top of the centers wish list for several years. The CT will not only offer the area with potential life saving services such as determining a stroke victim’s analysis but will also serve the BMC as a financial apparatus that will benefit them for years.

The newest check that was delivered by Dominion and its employees last week was again $25,000 and will fix the BMC “fire pit”.

The pit holds water, pumps and controls to supplement the water supply to the BMC’s sprinkler system. Municipal water pressure isn’t sufficient to keep the system at a minimum water pressure of 55 PSI to effectively run the operation; the pit gave the scheme the necessary pressure to operate the sprinkler system.

A malfunction in the pit caused it to flood causing an estimated $29.600 in damages.

In addition to the financial burden, BMC staff has to do a complete fire check every 30 minutes until the system is repaired. Two local fire companies have also been made aware of the situation and keep their tanker trucks filled and prepared to head to the center should an emergency occur.

The Dominion grant will almost single handedly rebuild the pit and allow the required pressure back to the water sprinkler system.

Last week’s visit to the BMC was the first for Aaron Hughes the new manager of operations at Dominion Energy Transmission who just recently arrived at the Leidy Station.

Hughes was not only able to hear the glowing words that Reeves had to say of Dominion’s previous contributions to the BMC but was able to see first hand their impact.

“We are proud to support the Bucktail Medical Center and the critical role that it plays serving the healthcare needs of residents and workers in western Clinton County” Hughes said. “The grant will provide funding for a new fire sprinkler pit used to protect the medical center from a fire, and ensure the safety of patients, healthcare workers and visitors at the facility”.

Hughes said that he is still taking in just what an impact Dominion has had on western Clinton County, but after just a couple of days he “seeing it already. Our employees are quite invested in their community.”

If the past partnership is any indication, last week’s trip to the Bucktail Medical Center by the new manager may have been his first visit and many visits to come as every trip seems to benefit the people of western Clinton County and well beyond.

About the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation:

Nearly 7.5 million customers in 18 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy. Through its charitable foundation as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed nearly $35 million in 2018 to community causes. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education and encourage community vitality.

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