The Journal Star reports today that Methodist Medical Center, along with RehabCare of St. Louis, is going to try to bring a long-term, acute-care facility to Renaissance Park (f.k.a. The Med-Tech District).  This is the same kind of facility Select Medical would like to bring to Southtown.  However, the state will likely approve only one such facility for Peoria, so we have a competition on our hands.

The City is apparently in favor of Methodist, as evidenced by its deferral of approving the sale of the land in Southtown to Select Medical last week.  But Methodist is saying (publicly, at least), “Thanks, council, but we can compete in the marketplace without your help”:

“We have no concerns [about Select Medical’s bid]. Whoever is telling you that is a liar,” [Methodist CEO Michael] Bryant said. “If they beat us to the punch, they win. This isn’t a city issue. It comes down to a certificate of need issue. The best thing is for the city not to take any sides.”

I couldn’t agree more.  The council should reconsider the deferral tonight and vote to let the Southtown sale go through.