Commissioners Browne, Edwards, Kasten, Ramos, and Billings presented the Continental Divide Trail Days proclamation of April as CD Trail Days to Jenny Gaeng, Michele Giese and Raul Turrieta.

The Silver High School wrestling team was recognized as the 2017 state champions. Pictured are Commissioners Billings, Kasten, Edwards Browne and Ramos, along with coaches Luis Alvarado and Jacob Vega, and wrestlers Zeke Marquez, Ramon Rodriguez, Vinny Vega, Armando Galindo, Ricky Villalobos, Lonnie Sandoval, Michael Aguirre III and Jayden Wietholter, Vince Marin, Damon Marquez, Iyan Villines, Will Kammerer and Isaiah Sanchez (not in order).

A third proclamation named April 3-9 as Public Health Week. Presenting the proclamation were the five commissioners and five Public Health Office staff members Margaret Diaz, Susan Garrison, Michele Giese, Brandi Warnack and Marcia Johnson (not in order).

Articles and photos by Mary Alice Murphy

 During public input at the Grant County Commission regular meeting on March 23, 2017, Interim Gila Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Alfredo Ontiveros gave the hospital monthly update.

"I was tasked with several items when I was brought here," Ontiveros said. "One was to convert the hospital to Meditech 6; another to optimize the revenue cycle; and the third to align staff to the hospital's needs.

"I did a position elimination of excess staff for operations as they are now," he continued. "I want to emphasize it had nothing to do with performance."

The reduction in force (RIF) consisted of 12 positions. In addition, seven recent vacancies will not be filled, but were not eliminated.

"Those on the RIF have the opportunity to apply for any opening at the hospital," Ontiveros said. "The RIF actions are not the fault of the individual. It was a business decision. We will pay the non-exempt employees two weeks of wages and the exempt four weeks worth. I find it is better practice to just let them go, rather than give them notice and have it hanging over their heads for the next two weeks to a month."

He reported that the financial picture showed a positive bottom line of $20,000 at the end of January. The February results would be reported to the Board of Trustees on Friday. "We had $5.2 million collected in January, but we are still $3.3 million behind for the fiscal year. We had the resignation of the chief financial officer, Mike Metts, and have brought in an interim CFO, JoBeth Vance."

Ontiveros confirmed the go live date for the Meditech 6 upgrade remains firm at June 2. "We are doing parallel testing and after May 24, there will be no more changes and we will be ready for the transition. The project already has $4 million in overrun costs."

He said the CEO process continues, with the selection committee already looking at candidates. In a closed meeting on March 27, the committee members will decide who to interview initially that week and then will send the final three to five candidate names to the board to make the final decision.

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos asked the policy on the RIF.

"We have no policy, but we are within standard practice," Ontiveros said.

"Can those let go transfer within the organization?" Ramos asked.

"It was a business decision. There are openings for which they may be qualified, but they have to apply," Ontiveros said.

Commissioner Alicia Edwards asked what role Ontiveros was playing in the CEO process.

"I am a consultant," Ontiveros said.

Edward also asked why hospital administration was not part of the job description.

Ontiveros explained the board had decided to use the previous job description as it stood.

Edwards asked how inexperienced employees would get training with the RIF of two who were in education and training.

"Education and training had four positions," Ontiveros said. "There are also two coordinators who can do bedside work and will absorb the duties of the two."

In reply to an additional question, Ontiveros said he did not think it would affect the four-star quality of the hospital.

In public input, Bob Brown, representing the owners and 200 residents of Burro Mountain Homestead said the Gila National Forest had been working since 2002 regarding the use of trails by ATVs. "At the time, the limit was a width of 50 inches. Now the forest service has put in two systems denoting trails for ATVs 50 inches or less and trails for horses, hikers and the like. Now there is nothing for UTVs that are 50 inches to 74 inches in width, the latter being the size of a Jeep."

"When they began enforcing the rules, there are fewer than 18 existing trails for us to use," Brown said. "UTVs with widths of 50-65 inches weren't available when the rules were set. Now we are not allowed on the trails, only on the roads. Other states are more friendly to UTVs. It will affect tourism in Grant County and especially the Burros. We have visitors from most states and from all over the world."

He gave the commissioners maps of what the system looked like before and now.

"They closed 100 trails, now only 18 are open," Brown continued. "But they will not allow UTVs on them. Eighty percent of the units that come now bring UTVs. It has begun to severely limit where we can go."

He said he has met with the supervisor and other Forest Service officials. "They have been courteous. My purpose is to let you know the negative impact it is having to BMH (Burro Mountain Homestead). We clean up and maintain the trails. We have fought the plan for years. I ask you to give us your support to make an exception for UTVs."

For a comprehensive financial report, please see the first part of the work session article at http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/35634-grant-county-commission-to-issue-proclamations-will-consider-a-contract-for-conference-center-management-hears-bad-financial-news

The first proclamation named the month of April as Continental Divide Trail Days month.

Jenny Gaeng, Gateway community coordinator for the CDT Coalition, accepted the proclamation along with County Assessor Raul Turrieta.

Gaeng told of her uncertainty when she came through Silver City last summer hoping to complete the 3,100 miles of the CDT from Mexico to Canada. "Last fall, on a wet and miserable day, I arrived at the Canadian border in Glacier National Park. Its jagged peaks, high alpine passes and lush waterfalls are a world away from Silver City, New Mexico. Somehow, I had done itG