Summit Pacific Medical Center’s chief executive officer, Josh Martin, released a statement Thursday in response to the city of Montesano’s request to leave Grays Harbor County Hospital District No. 2.

Hospital District 2 is centered around Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen. Montesano officials have said de-annexing from District 2 and partnering with District 1, which is centered around Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma, is a possibility. One of the underlying issues is which district would get a share of Montesano’s property tax.

“As always, we are committed to working collaboratively with all parties involved to preserve and enhance health care services in Grays Harbor County,” Martin said in the release. “It is important that we work together to serve all residents who look to us as partners in their health and wellness.”

As of Friday, Summit Pacific had not responded to requests for comment beyond its statement.

Summit Pacific acknowledges that it already is serving many residents of Montesano and the surrounding area. But it says at this time, it is “focused on the construction of its Wellness Center,” which is set to open early next year.

During its meeting Tuesday, the Montesano Council voted unanimously to request to be de-annexed from Hospital District 2.

During the discussion, Montesano Mayor Vini Samuel sited a desire for more care providers and a potential new clinic as reasons for the council’s request.

“I believe that we need more primary care providers that stay in the Harbor and that has been a large problem,” Samuel said. “And I do believe that the residency program, if we can negotiate with Summit to have them build that here, would be a great boom, not only for Hospital District 1, not only for the city of Montesano, but also for Hospital District 2. I think that the community would benefit from being able to seed more doctors into the hospital.”