The county issues a proclamation on the Grant County Community Health Council's 25th anniversary. From left are Commissioner Gabriel Ramos, Commissioner Chairman Brett Kasten, Grant County Community Health Council Coordinator Cari Lemon and Commissioner Ron Hall.

Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

The first to speak during public input at the Dec. 15, 2016, final Grant County Commission regular meeting of the year was a resident of Wind Canyon II Subdivision.

John Boynton said his property is part of the Wind Canyon Road-Fleming Tank Road improvement district items on the agenda.

"I have closely followed progress on this project since it was started nearly four years ago," Boynton said. "Early on we were told that Grant County would share the cost of the needed road improvements by providing labor and equipment, while the property owners would be charged for materials."

He said at the Dec. 12, 2015, meeting where Loma Verde Subdivision improvement district was under consideration, the same deal was offered to the residents.

"In looking over the cost of our project, I find the county is covering only labor and equipment costs for installation of several culverts and two dry water crossings. Property owners will pay for the required cement and metal culverts. I feel this allocation of costs is not in accord with what the commissioners promised Wind Canyon property owners at the December 2015 meeting. I ask the commissioners to justify the current cost allocation."

[Editor's Note: Public comment is not a time for debate, so his concern was addressed later in the meeting when items on the road improvement district were approved.]

James Baldwin, county resident, had several complaints. "I came on Monday morning to recycle, but no recycle bin was in the parking lot. I came back Tuesday and no bin was there. Finally it was there on Wednesday. That means the recycling operates only three days a week. I would have spoken to the commissioner who sits on the recycling committee, but I didn't know who it was because it wasn't reported in the paper last January when the appointments are usually made."

He also said the newspaper reported the commissioners would discuss lowering the salaries. "What I think you need to lower is the $50,000 in discretionary funds that each of you receive. We never see where it goes. If it goes to five commissioners that's a quarter of a million dollars taken out of operational funds for your particular pet projects. During a four-year term, that's $1 million. I never see the expenditures itemized. I would like to see a published list of where it goes, and I would like to see it reduced as much or more than the salaries."

Rebekka Van Ness said she was representing caregivers and her personal opinions. "We are in a situation at the hospital that is more challenging and serious than the one several years ago. I want to impress on you that serious changes need to be made within days." She gave business cards to the commissioners and asked them to contact the office with questions.

"I am really concerned about what will happen over the next two weeks," Van Ness continued. "Things are progressing as they have in the past. I would personally like you to consider the CFO as the interim CEO. Changes need to be made immediately."

Billy Billings, commissioner-elect, thanked Commissioner Ron Hall for his service. Hall was attending the final meeting of his term.

"I will be taking Hall's place," Billings said. "I have big shoes to fill. I look forward to working with (Commission Chairman Brett) Kasten and (Commissioner Gabriel) Ramos. I, too, have serious concerns about the hospital. I think the financial condition is more serious than we are led to believe. Gila Regional had a $2.7 million loss in October, and expects a $1.4 million loss in November and a $2.6 million loss in December. We have lost more than $5 million to date this year. I congratulate the Board of Trustees and hope they select an interim chief executive officer soon to get things back on track. The most important thing is to have a process for finding a permanent CEO similar to the process the school used in its search for a superintendent. It had three committeesG