By Mary Alice Murphy

On Friday, August 12, 2016, the Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees held a special meeting to address a proposed resolution of collaboration between the hospital and GRMC for financing of needed capital building improvements at the facility.

Board Chairman Jeremiah Garcia read the resolution, which included the usual whereas describing the hospital as a Grant County-owned non-for-profit, acute-care hospital with inpatient and outpatient services.

Another whereas stated the Board of Trustees is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the land, buildings and equipment.

A fifth whereas addressed the ongoing significant reductions in reimbursement from a variety or private and governmental payors, along with significant reductions in state-funded supplemental support of the Medicaid program.

The hospital also faces annual and ongoing needs for capital building improvements and capital upgrades.

A whereas also stated the provision of financial support for rural healthcare facilities via local taxation is a common and accepted model in New Mexico and across the county.

The final whereas addressed the crux of the issue: Gila Regional Medical Center is in need of some level of county tax revenue assistance in order to support ongoing, needed capital building improvements and capital equipment upgrades.

Now therefore be it resolved that the GRMC Board of Trustees formally request that the Grant County Board of Commissioners explore and pursue available options for providing some level of county tax support to GRMC on an ongoing basis. And further that the commissioners take all the steps necessary as soon as practical to allow for the assessment and/or collection of these county tax monies that shall then be made available to GRMC for the purposes of supporting ongoing capital building improvements and capital equipment upgrades.

Before the trustees went into closed session, the newest board members were introduced and each spoke.

Joel Schram said he was born and raised in Michigan, where he served on a hospital board. "I was chief financial officer in community banks in Arizona. I moved here three years ago with the purpose of moving into the market presidency of 1st American Bank." He said he also served 11 years in the U.S. Army.

Michael Morones said he is the past mayor of Silver City, where he was born, was raised and educated. "I am the managing partner of Morones and Knuttinen CPAs for the past 14 years. I hope to help see this county-owned hospital continue to serve the community."

Dr. Tsering Sherpa was born in Nepal, received her medical education in India, and served her residency on the east coast of the U.S. "I am a hospitalist. I enjoy my work here and hope to for many more years." Her husband works in the GRMC IT department.

The trustees then went into closed session to have additional discussion on the resolution.

When the group came back to order, Garcia noted one correction had been requiredG