OCR Text |
Show 50 cents April 4, 2001 ; isssj I John Hart has been hired as the new Chief Executive Officer of the San Juan Health District. Commission brief Harts hiring was approved by the district at the March 27 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Hart has 10 years of experience as the CEO of a private psychiatric hospital in the Midwest. He has a masters degree in Health Care Administration from Brigham Young University. The new position was made open because current CEO Cleal Bradford will be leaving the district by the end of the month. The Board approved a $66,000 salary forHart, with $4,000 in moving expenses. Hart has five children, including two that are college age. In all, there were 18 applicants for the CEO position. The search committee interviewed Students at Monticello Elementary School stretch themselves during the annual Spring Festival on March 28. The character education program at the school was featured in the 2001 program. Nearly every student participated in the annual program, which was followed the next day by well attended Parent-TeachConferences, staff photo er Water year continues to be close to normal levels Year in and year out, there are few precipitation measures that mean more to area farmers, ranchers and residents than the snow totals at the end ofMarch. The snow reports are generally a good indicator of the water, conditions for the year. As a result, the tension was up-comi- ng high when the National Re- source and Conservation Ser- vice recently completed the March 31 snow survey. The survey shows that it could be worse, but then again it could be better. " . Hie Camp Jackson station on the south end of the Abajo Mountains has 34.25 inches of snow with 11.6 inches of water. This is 118 percent of normal. The total year precipitation at Camp Jackson shows 18.5 inches, with the normal being 16.7 inches. This is 111 percent of normal. : Buckboard Flat has 29.4 inches of snow with 9.4 inches ofwater. This is just 75 percent of normal. La Sal Upper has 35.1 inches of snow with 11.4 inches of wa- six, which were paired down to the top two. The first applicant was offered the job but turned the position down. As a result. Hart was offered the job. In other matters at tho March 27 meeting, the Board voted not to proceed with Critical Access Hospital status for San Juan Hospital. For more than two years, the district has been going through study, analysis, and review of the Critical Access status, which increased Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. The CAH status was created after the 1996 Balanced Budget Act, which caused financial dif- leviated Borne of the financial stress caused by the original Act. Bradford reports that after all was said and done, an analysis of. a Critical Access Hospital versus staying with the status quo Bhowed that there would be less than a $400 difference. Because of the risks involved if the district decided to back out of a Critical Access Hospital decision, the board determined to keep the current in-dep- th - Precipitation Monticello and Blanding continue to show higher than average water for the year. Both communities got the water year off to a good start with soaking rains in the early fall. The winter has remained Close to normal. The winter snow pack is beginning to melt and fill area reservoirs. In Monticello, overflow water into the Monticello water system will be diverted into Loyds Lake this year, instead of being released down North Creek. See page 2 Forest Service proposes three projects to deal with spruce beetles - seeks support for watershed project - status. There will be several changes in the Health Care District in coming months, as the Monument Valley Clinic is scheduled to cut its affiliation with the San Juan Health District. The change is scheduled to take place on May 1, but there is still a lot of unfinished business attendant to the changeover. The first group seeking to as- sume management of health care in the Monument Valley area is a consortium of groups led by the Utah Navqjo Development Council under the direction of Cleal Bradford. In fact, Bradford will be leaving the District to assume responsibility for this new organization. UNDC proposes a group of organizations to provide and expand services to the Monument Valley Community, including the health care clinic, San Juan Counseling, an increased law enforcement presence, Utah ficulties for rural hospitals State University, and other . throughout the United States. groups. The services would be An amendment to the Bal- provided out of the current anced Budget Act in 2000 in- health clinic building, where creased the reimbursements of more than 80 percent of the Medicaid and Medicare and al building is currently unused (please turn to page 2) Dust in See page 4 the Wind - See page 7 RECA lOUs continue to gamer na- tional attention - See page 7 Nine area students named Sterling Scholars - See page 8 Donuts with Dad - See page 9 Bad luck for Bucks on ball fields Seepage 12 -- Designer visits proposed motor sports park in Monticello -- See page 12 Great weather for livestock auction -- SeeNorthen News, page 13 Cave Guy is looking happeeeey - See My View My page 14 Cave, 1 Monticello Blanding Hi Lo Pr Hi Lo Pr 68 32 65 40.16 63 30 tr. 60 38 63 30 tr. 60 32 60 30 tr. 68 37 tr. 63 26 60 35 69 27 66 36 Mar 26 27 28 29 30 31 Apr 1 66 30 71 I NEWS ROUNDUP. LETTERS CLASSIFIEDS. POOR See page 3 Monticello Council ter. This is 83 percent of normal. The total year precipitation shows 17.2 inches with the normal being 16.8 inches. This is 102 percent of normal. La Sal Lower has 27.2 inches of snow with 9 inches of water. This is 93 percent of normal. totals for fWtociBsSn Health District hires new GEO .2 6 .18 |