Cash-on-hand cushion enough to preclude levy in 2021

POMEROY–Plans to upgrade electrical and HVAC systems were terminated and adequate cash-on-hand reserves will fend off any need for a 2021 levy, Hospital Commissioners decided recently.

The Garfield County Hospital District Board of Commissioners passed Resolution 2021-02 at their meeting on July 12, essentially abandoning the plan approved in Resolution 2021-01, and upgrade of electrical and HVAC systems in the hospital, as well construction of a CT scanning facility. The decision to terminate the plan was based on a lack of funding.

No levy is expected to be needed for the hospital this year as the financial expectation is to finish with 110 days cash-on-hand, which is enough of a cushion to preclude the necessity of a levy.

Superintendent and Co-CEO Mat Slaybaugh announced that the ultrasound and portable x-ray machines have been installed, but the interfacing with the network is not yet finished. The machines are expected to go live in the beginning of August with a schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

The telecardiology service went live on June 24 with two patients who gave good reports on the service. The next date is July 22, with one patient scheduled at the time of the meeting. There are two-hour blocks for telecardiology appointments.

Superintendent Slaybaugh also announced a meeting on August 24 with Mike Milligan, owner of a marketing business called Legato. The meeting is to create an initial plan evaluation for the marketing goals and needs of the hospital. The fee for the initial evaluation is $7,500, and further charges will be paid on a project-to-project basis to be tailored to the Hospital District's specific needs.

The Hospital District board finished the meeting with an executive session to review the performance of a public employee. No action was announced.