Effort underway to seek new VA medical facility in Piedmont

Piedmont is hoping to attract a new medical facility for veterans to their city. The Piedmont City Council threw its support behind the effort to attract the facility.  Former Mayor Rick Freeman wants to persuade the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to build a medical facility in Piedmont, and the current mayor, Bill Baker, said Tuesday he supports the effort. Baker then asked the council to support the plan and it agreed, telling Baker that he could include the council in a letter of support that will be handed to Rep. Mike Rogers later this week. The council’s decision to support the former mayor’s plan comes as President Barack Obama earlier this month signed into law a plan to give $16 billion more to the federal agency. Much of that money will be used to give veterans access to private care if they have waited longer than 30 days to see a doctor.