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Show this great country was founded THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, November 24, 1999 - Page 2 Letters To The Editor The Record welcomes letters from its readers on any subject of public interest. Letters must be no more than 300 words in length. The publishers reserve the right to edit, condense, or reject any Letters must be contributions. signed and include an address and telephone number. CIB asked to delay funding Dear Editor: This letter was sent to Community Impact Board members. Dear CIB Board Members: In August of 1998, the Community Impact Board entertained a request from the San Juan Health Care Services Board of San Juan County for $2.1 million to fund an enlarged medical clinic facility in Blanding, Utah which would include an Outpatient Surgery Unit to accommodate same-da- y surgery procedures. At that time, a private company was also working on a short-sta- y hospital project for Blanding. The CIB voted to allow the private group until October 1998 to complete their financing before allocating the requested $2.1 million to San Juan Health Care Services. The private company, Blue Mountain Medical Center, Inc., did move forward with their project work with Key Bank, researching and refining and developing a finished project application, which was approved by Key Banks Health Division in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, Key Bank State Health Department for final review. The initial review and preliminary adjustments were done in 1998. The USDA guarantee is scheduled to be complete by January 1, 2000 and construction is scheduled to begin in March 2000 or sooner, depending on the weather. As the county population will now support two facilities offering similar services in the same community, the Blan- ding City Health Advisory Board would like to request the CIB Board hold the $2.1 million requested by the county until after MarchApril. This action would be in line with the CIB policy of not competing with private enterprise. We have seen the completed plans, research and business plans of the private company, and know that they have their land site and letter of commitment from the bank. The USDA has assured us of their support for the private project. This private enterprise would also relieve the people of this area of a considerable tax burden, as the company has expressed a serious interest in working with the county to negotiate operation of all county facilities and services into a privatized system, similar to the operations in Milford and Millard counties which are currently successful. The money from the CIB Board could then be utilized to provide such needed facilities as a clinic in Monument Valley. We would appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this request to encourage private enterprise to develop in our community. The private facility will include services not now available in the Four Corners area and more readily available to the Native American population in the southern end of San Juan County. Please feel free to contact Letha Burtenshaw, RN, Chairman of the Blanding Health Care Advisory Board, or Lou Mueller, Council-womaBlanding City Coun- began merger negotiations and the two working with the project at the Salt Lake City office took positions with other banks. This stalemated the project. However, Webb Bank of Park City picked up on the project and the initial letter of commitment for financing, complete working architectural plans, and land site acquisition have been received and arranged. The complete Final Application with USDA cil, for an 80 guarantee of the total loan package which with Vice-presiden- ts equipment is approx. $9.2 million, has been filed, reviewed and final requests are being processed with full support from the USDA staff. Services to be provided at this facility include Renal Dialysis and CT scans, along with regular lab, diagnostic imaging services, physical therapy, surgery, LDR rooms, clinic facilities and eight acute care beds for 72 hour stays. Patients with diagnosis allowing DRG coding for longer term care would be admitted to the facility in Monticello. While the CIB Board has approved the $2.1 million for San Juan Health Services, the Blue Mountain Medical Center (BMMC) private project 435-678-353- 2; n, 435-678-231- 9. Sincerely, Letha Burtenshaw, RN, Chairman Care Health Blanding Advisory Board Letter to Commissioners regarding health care Dear Editor: A letter to the San Juan County Commissioners: Dear Commissioners, I heard Commissioner Redds comments on the radio and then read the article in the San Juan Record and want to let you know, as requested, that this one resident of Blanding and San Juan has a complete package of County does indeed have a business, management, finan- voice and an opinion. cial and operation plans, total I realize that some health funding, land site and com- care provided by the county is plete working blueprints necessary, but I also believe in which have been given to the the free enterprise system that upon. Any level of government should not be in competition with private business. In my view, it should totally stay out of competing with any industry. Nevertheless, it seems that from Federal to City levels, our government thinks that they must take care of us. In the case of the San Juan County health care, here are my recommendations: 1. Encourage a private hospital to come in and serve the entire county. Allow it the freedom to run its business as a The achelor stars Chris O'Donnell See 696 serve the county without being hassled by county employees. 3. Use a small staff and facility operated by the county as a backup health care facility, and hire a professional medical administrator. Make the system work within a designated budget and give the citizens of San Juan County value for their tax dollar. 4. Use our existing, outdated and beloved hospital (which has served us well), as a nursing home and put it up for bid to the private sector to run it. 5. While were at it, instead of using our tax dollars for a fleet of ambulances, turn that over to private enterprise too. In the United States, no government should be empowered to do anything we as citizens are not empowered to do as private citizens. This country has succeeded because of free enterprise, not socialism. A private business enterprise operates in the black because it is accountable to those who have their hard earned money invested in it. Government operations tend to ask for more money rather than make it work with what they have. I do not want to pay higher taxes in any form for a county health care system when it should be the private sector caring for the majority of its citizens. In summary: No new taxes. it 7:00 pm at the MOVIES! MOhTFAMlfYNITr$12 ECentral Monticello BENEFIT trauma, emergency, surgical, 2. Encourage and allow private health care providers to and Renee Zellneger Happy Thanksgiving! primary care center, i.e., etc. Saturday MondayNovsmttej Friday DINNER FOR THE ALVAREZ FAMILY Saturday 4 - 8 pm November 27 Lions Club Bldg For $3.50 child $6 adult $25 family more information, call Karen at Sue Morrell 587-272- Taylor Take out available at 587-253- or 7 after 6 pm 8 SERVING ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS TOM PALMER 435-678-21- Fax 08 435-678-32- 68 I 251 N. MAIN MONTICELLO 587-275- 2 OPEN 24 HOURS GENERAL STORE DAILY SPECIALS (includes fries and 32 oz. drink) Privatize medicine in San Juan County. Eliminate costly incompetent people, buildings and equipment in the county and mostly allow its citizen the freedom from interference in their lives and wallets. Respectfully, Marylynn Smith ITR Al LSI DEiS AUU.TES Expiration dates on sour cream The San Juan Record HOMETOWN More letters on page 3 435:678:2653 November 24 - Dec 2 movies will be The World Is Not Enough James Bond (PG-13- ) stars Pierce Bronson Toy Story 2 g) Monday Family tickets $16 Tuesday CEU Card Holder $2 Closed Sunday SINCE 1 91 5 Copyright, The San Juan Record , 1998. All rights reserved. Reproduction, reuse or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission by the publisher. ISSN SAtTOUANiTHEATER NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY. UTAH 0894-327- 3 Published weekly at 49 South Mam, Monticello, Utah. Periodical postage paid at Monticello, Utah 84535 (ISSN0894-3273- Postmaster: Send ail addreaa changea to P.O. Boi 879, Monticello, Utah 8453$. The San Juan Record is a member of the Utah Press Association and National Newspaper Association. 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