Saturday, February 7, 2009

Crowd expresses frustration on hospital issue

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

With many wearing badges emblazoned with the edict "Build it! 80%" nearly 100 people crowded into Wednesday evening's county commission meeting to express their discontent about the status of the hospital project.

While not everyone jammed into the meeting room spoke, the comments made by 17 county residents were almost universally met with loud applause and cheering.

The badges referred to a hospital mill levy that was approved in 2006 by nearly 80 percent of those who voted that November.

After bringing in extra chairs, many people were still standing while others resorted to sitting on the floor.

Noting the large turnout, Commission Chair Pedro Rael said he would keep the public comments to two minutes each. He strictly enforced that time limit, giving some speakers a 10-second warning as they neared the end of their allotted time.

George Moscona of Rio Communities said he voted for the mill levy. "It is confounding and unimaginable that a project the voters voted for is stalled," he said. "We insist this be resolved and a hospital be built. The commission was presented possible locations, and the commission chose a site. It is now a matter of implementing the will of the people."

Another Rio Communities resident, Joseph Rizzo, commented that an emergency room is a lot more than room with doctors and nurses that is open 24 hours.

"We need a full-service hospital locally based," he said. "It is said that Valencia County never misses the opportunity to miss an opportunity. This is the most important project this county has ever undertaken."

Sylvester Saavedra, age 65, said he has lived in other communities that had one or more hospitals and moved here because he had heard one was going to be built. "How can so few stand in the way of giving Valencia County something so terribly needed?" he asked.

Rael asked Saavedra where he lived. Saavedra replied that he lived in Rio Communities. "What does it matter?" he asked back. "I am a Valencia County resident, like anyone else."

Former Rio Grande Estates Fire chief L.E. Rubin said his concern was that the resolution of the matter is being delayed by mediation.

"I am one of thousands who voted. We were not confused about what was passed. We voted to tax ourselves for a hospital with an emergency room in the county," he said. "Don't give us our money back. We want our hospital."

Rubin went on to say he commended and appreciated commissioners David Medina and Ron Gentry for their continued support. "As for those of you who voted for roadblocks or redos, shame on you," he said. Rubin returned to his seat to applause.

When the room quieted, Rael announced that since public comments are at his discretion, they were over.

The crowd erupted in protest. Moscona jumped to his feet, declaring that the public would be heard. "We will continue the public meeting," he said. "We are the public."

Moscona continued repeating his declaration as the chairman called for a five-minute break. Outcries of "why?" and "what for?" followed the strike of the gavel beginning the break.

When Rael reconvened the meeting, he said public comments would continue but warned audience members that if any personal attacks were leveled at "any commissioners or anyone in this room," he would end the comments.

"We can do this without being disrespectful," Rael said. This was met from scoffing in the audience and reprimands to "hush" and "be respectful." Rael continued, saying the commission had no problem listening to all views on the topic. "But we need to do this without slanderous comments," he said. "It doesn't further your cause."

Jarales resident Albert Carrillo was the lone voice of dissent to take the podium that evening, calling the hospital nothing more than a "white elephant" for the taxpayers. "If anyone thinks then need a hospital, let them build it with their own money and make a profit," he said.

Carrillo's comments were met with scattered applause.

Rick Jaramillo, who was born and raised in Belen and now lives in Rio Communities, said he hasn't gotten enough information on why someone would want to stop the progress of the community.

"Why are some willing to impede the progress of the community?" he asked. "We are willing to put money out of our own pockets. That's why I work and pay taxes."

Meadow Lake resident Bob Gostischa said he also voted for the hospital and is paying taxes for the hospital. "I haven't seen a hospital, and there are rumors we aren't getting it," he said. "If we are not going to get it, we should at least get out money back."

Michael Chase came to the podium next, shaking his head. "I never thought I'd ever hear myself say this but, I don't want my tax money back," he said. "I voted for a hospital. You need to stop listening to lobbyists and special interest groups who want to change our plans. We want it and need it badly."

Paul Readette, who has lived in the county for 15 years near the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus, told the commissioners of an experience he had in July 2006.

"I began have back pains, and, luckily, my wife insisted I go see a doctor," he said. "By the time the ambulance got me from my house to Presbyterian, I had no blood pressure and no pulse. The next day, when the doctor took five liters of blood out of my chest, he said one more red light and I would have been dead."

With no more audience members wanting to speak, Rael asked if the commissioners had any response. Donald Holliday, who took office in January, said he didn't know about the hospital. "I've kind of stepped into it on January 1," he said. "I have constituents in the northern part of the county. Why put it in Rio Communities? Why not in Bosque Farms or Los Lunas where it would be easier for everyone? My constituents are paying taxes too and still driving to Albuquerque."

Holliday went on, saying there was not much the commission could do at this time. "This is tied up in a lawsuit," he said. "There isn't much we can do except listen and react to your comments at a later date."

Commissioner Georgia Otero-Kirkham emphasized that the mill levy monies can't be used to build a hospital. "It can be used to maintain an existing hospital," she said. "The Valencia Health Commons (VHC) has a contract to pursue a hospital. Basically, we are at the point where we are saying build a hospital and we will transfer the mill levy. If we all stand up as commissioners, clasp hands and say 'build a hospital,' we cannot. It is tied up in litigation."

Otero-Kirkham declared she never said she was not for a hospital. She said she did not vote in favor of the contract with VHC, a local non-profit, because she felt it "tied our hands" to one option. "I voted for mediation because I believe this has to move forward," she said. "Every commissioner up here wants a hospital."

In June of 2007, nine Valencia County residents began the litigation that has become the legal quagmire the county is embroiled in over the hospital mill levy.

Listed as plaintiffs in the matter are Raoul J. Cordova, Rita M. Padilla-Gutierrez, Fermin Moncivaiz, Jennie Moncivaiz, Anthony Carrion, Richard Eubank, Judy Eubank, Ernest Rowlison and Sue Rowlison.

Holliday said he had not seen a site plan or blueprints for the proposed hospital. From the audience, Mike Wood, a county resident and Commissioner Ron Gentry's new appointee to the county hospital board, asked if he could address Holliday's comment.

Rael said he could not, saying that the public comments were over and the commission had the right to speak.

Holliday continued, saying it was his understanding that the county needed an existing hospital to direct the mill levy too. "That's what they've said," he said.

The audience rumbled, with various individuals saying that was untrue and protesting that this was a public meeting. Holliday asked if a recent meeting in Belen was a public meeting.

"I don't think the people in Bosque Farms knew about it," he said. "Was there public notice?" A woman in the audience fired back that notification wasn't necessary, saying "Do I have to notify you if I have a meeting in my living room?"

Rael again cautioned the audience, saying the commissioners had listened to their concerns and now had the right to speak.

Commissioner David Medina, calling himself a strong proponent of the hospital, said he believed the people voted for it.

Medina said he would have preferred for the appellate court to have ruled on the matter, even though there is no guarantee that the court will rule in favor of the county.

"If it had gone through the appeals process, we would have the chance to move on," he said. "I fully support a hospital for my district and all the citizens of the county."

Gentry said the county began working on the hospital project some years ago. "Some of the commissioners may not be up to speed and that is up to them," he said. "This commission went through the proper process. We hired professionals to do the planning, did the vote. After a year of planning, a lawsuit was filed that alleged the people didn't know what they were voting for."

Gentry continued, saying the appeal filed by the nine plaintiffs was asking if the district court judge's ruling was correct. "This appeal does not address anything except if the judge was right," he said. "And I feel pretty comfortable that the appeals court was going to agree that the judge was correct. We have told the health commons that if the court rules the judge is correct, we would commit the mill levy funds when the hospital is certified."

Rael commented that he didn't know where people got the idea that he was against the hospital. "Everyone wants one," he said. "But it is my duty as a commissioner that when this county collects $22 million in taxpayer money, we don't just give it to a group to see if they can build a hospital."

According to the most recent treasurer's report for the period ending Dec. 31, 2008, the county has collected $4,072,090 in mill levy funds for the hospital project.

Rael said his own research showed a nationwide trend for less demand for hospital beds. "This is due to the advances in technology and surgery," he said. "We have advanced to the point where people don't have to be in the hospital for a week to recover from surgery."

Before funding for the hospital could be secured, Rael said the feasibility study would have to be redone for the site the commission selected, as well as for other possible sites in the county.

Bob Davey, the VHC president, said Thursday the numbers in the feasibility report would have to be updated before the Chicago-based finance company Stearn Brothers would issue the $50 million in bonds for construction of the hospital.

"We have always said that before the financing can be finalized those numbers would have to be updated. We are talking about data that is now two years old," he said. "When we are ready to pull the trigger on this project, it will take 90 to 120 days to update that information.

"And since we don't know when the litigation is going to be resolved, there is no reason to do that work only to turn around and do it again."

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