City officials consider selling North Kansas City Hospital

NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. - City officials are considering selling North Kansas City Hospital to a private company – and some residents are not happy about it.

"(It’s) the most beautiful asset in this city, and they want to sell it," said Gus Leimkuhler in disbelief.

Leimkuhler was born not too far from the hospital. He said he's almost as old as the city itself.

He's been a patient of the hospital and now sits on its board of directors.

"This hospital has served this community well,” he said. “There hasn't been one problem or major complaint.  Why would we want to get rid of it?"

Former mayor Elizabeth Short said she was blindsided by the news.

"It's just circulating around town,” she said. “I understand the medical staff at the hospital are shaken."

Short said she sees the hospital as a city icon that started with the city and should stay with city.

"This hospital has a very special meaning to those of us who have our roots in the city," she said.