FORT MILL -- Carolinas HealthCare System was the fourth - and final - entry into the pool of companies seeking state approval to build a hospital in Fort Mill.

The company made its intentions public Tuesday night in a statement released by its board.

Meanwhile, another nonprofit, Presbyterian Healthcare, which provided details of its application on Monday, said it wants to bring hospital service with a smile to Fort Mill.

"The whole time they (patients) are there we want to be making sure we are delighting them at each and every opportunity," said Presbyterian President and CEO Carl Armato.

Charlotte-based Presbyterian is one of four companies competing to get approval from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to build a 64-bed hospital in the booming Fort Mill market.

Presbyterian, part of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Healthcare, has plans for a hospital costing between $75 million and $95 million on 50 acres at 701 Sutton Road, in River Crossing.

Armato stressed the importance of holding numerous community forums to design a hospital that meets the needs of local residents. He said the company would meet with civic leaders, local physicians and residents, if their bid is chosen by the state.

"We're pretty confident we'll be the ones selected," he said.

Armato also stressed that Presbyterian, as a nonprofit organization, would reinvest more into the hospital and community because it wouldn't have to worry about maintaining profit margins for shareholders.

The Presbyterian site will be inside the town limit. Last month the Fort Mill Town Council gave a letter of endorsement to another company competing for the right to build a hospital here - Piedmont - because the facility would be located in town. At the time the council said it would also give a similar letter to any company willing to build a hospital in town.

Town Manager David Hudspeth said he would expect the council to endorse Presbyterian if the company asked. Councilman Grady Ervin agreed.

"I would support the construction of that hospital (Presbyterian) as much as the other one (Piedmont)," he said. "Let DHEC decide which one, but I will support either."

However, Councilman Ken Beam wasn't so quick to throw his support behind a nonprofit organization that would not be paying the same taxes as a for-profit hospital would.

"We have a responsibility to keep the residential tax base steady while providing excellent service," Beam said. "Bringing in an industry that doesn't pay taxes doesn't help that."

Carolinas HealthCare bid

Carolinas HealthCare System, parent of Charlotte's Carolinas Medical Center, says it wants to build an $80 million, 64-bed hospital in York County. The statement said the proposed facilitywould include medical and surgical care, intensive, obstetrical services, outpatient surgery, magnetic resonance, 24-hour emergency care and a pharmacy.

Tenet Healthcare, parent of Rock Hill's Piedmont Medical Center, already has filed its request for a certificate of need from DHEC.

Hospital Partners of Charlotte also will compete for the Fort Mill hospital. The filing deadline with DHEC is Friday.

Eileen Bradway and Herald staff reports contributed to this story.