[Editor's Note: This is the first in a multi-part series of articles covering the almost five-hour-long Grant County Commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Grant County Commission addressed a long agenda, including a public hearing and working through a proposed ordinance, but the first item on the agenda was to hear a report from Gila Regional Medical Center

Because Chief Executive Officer Taffy Arias was unable to attend, Interim Chief Financial Officer JoBeth Vance gave the report.

"On the Cancer Center, a physician assistant has accepted an offer to serve at the center and has given notice to his employer," Vance said. "He has to fulfill his contractual obligation and then will have two weeks of training at the University of New Mexico. We have ordered the equipment and software for the radiology machine. All staff, except for the clinical manager and a second radiology tech, has been hired."

She said some recent changes have been made at the cafeteria in the hours of service.

"We had a recent fire inspection, and have a few things to do that will be completed by Oct. 6," Vance said. "To address the emergency services issue, we have continued talking to (Silver City Town Manager) Alex Brown. We have hired some more emergency medical techs. We have also hired clinical managers for the clinics."

Commissioner Alicia Edwards asked why they were just now signing for the radiology software.

"The cost and we had to go through a contract," Vance said. "We got the final quote last night and will sign the contract today."

Edwards asked why those who were recently been cut in the reduction in force were being replaced.

"They weren't R.N.s," Vance said. "The new ones will be licensed R.N.s."

Commission Chairman Brett Kasten asked about the "elephant in the room. When will the Cancer Center open? A month?"

"It all hinges on the physician assistant's current employer," Vance said. "When the P.A. starts, the center opens."

"I'm disappointed on how people are being let down," Kasten said.

Commissioner Billy Billings said it's been two months since the Cancer Center closed. "It's a disappointment, but not a surprise."

"We agree," Vance said. "It's been a frustrating process. We want it to be open as soon as possible."

Billings said he had heard that another person had been hired to be the physical assistant but fell through. Vance replied that to her knowledge no one had been hired before. "All over the country, there is a lack of P.As."

"It's too bad no one could have seen this coming in January," Billings said. "The average citizen could see the train wreck coming. We know it's not the current administration, but some people are still there. Things are happening in the Cancer Center, but not cancer treatment."

Vance also gave the financial update.

"We had 167 admissions in July, 1,297 emergency room visits and 423 surgeries," Vance said. "We made $16 million, netted $3.7 million, but had expenses of $5 million, so we had $1.6 million loss. But we still have 61.3 days in cash and our daily average expense is $196,000."

Kasten said the commission used to get the full board packet each month two CEOs ago, prior to the current Board of Trustees.

Edwards noted that the numbers are meaningless without a comparison to the prior year's.

Vance said the loss last year for the same month was $450,000. "But our surgeries and admissions are up this year from last year, and our expenses are down."

"Can we determine how much is due to the Cancer Center?" Billings asked. "I have heard it was $2 million less in July for the pharmacy, labs and other cancer related services."

"We knew going into it with the Cancer Center that there would be a loss," Vance said. "We were making progress before the Cancer Center issue. Our expenses are $1 million less than last year. We're watching cash, but we knew it would happen."

Edwards said all of the commissioners are hearing a lot from the residents with concerns. "Are we cutting things with value that may have adverse affects? For instance, the cafeteria. Are you thinking about the customers when you make the decision to change the hours?"

"We looked at volumes at certain hours and couldn't afford to stay open," Vance said. "We didn't lay off, but we cut overtime. We will have no Sunday brunch, but we will still have food for the staff and family members."

The next item was public input.

Linda Nichols said she is very concerned that the GRMC Board of Trustee members have no accountability on decisions they made on the Cancer Center. "The RFP was issued on Feb. 2, and they said the final contract was expected in March, but it was finally signed in July. Either they are ignorant or didn't know any better. They have the financials. I still say Jeremiah (Garcia, GRMC Board president) had a conflict of interest. He said his wife had three different oncologists. I've had one all the years I spent there. He had a conflict of interest."

She said she had put in a request for information and had received financial numbers.

Edwards said she would be interested in the numbers.

The next article will cover the public hearing on the off-highway vehicles ordinance under consideration.