After the defeat of the 22.7 million dollar property tax increase failed to garner the 2/3 majority necessary to infuse the hospital with millions of dollars for a plan misunderstood and seemingly suspicious to many, the Kern Valley Healthcare District board meeting was a simple fiasco.
Dr. Gross, DO, and chairperson, Victoria Alwin, spent most of the night passing notes and whispering to each other as the board tried to side step the question of the night: PLAN B.
The board was asked what it planned to do in light of the current loss of measure g, which was not a plan as much as it was a way to gain credit and monies. In an email from CEO, Tim McGlew, he states that once they acquire the bond then they would take action to create a plan.
So, then what were they selling with Measure G?
With the community still confused as to whether or not the measure was defeated, only a small audience appeared at the KVHD general board meeting, as QAB media newsman, Scott Costa, initially reported on his early morning broadcast the measure had won.
This confusion of information, as I still receive phone calls asking what the outcome was on the tax hike, highlights a dysfunctional media relationship with the community. It only underscores my contention of how much power our one radio station/ambulance/board member can impact the information in this community.
What if there is an emergency? Or say the hospital which is an emergency...
NO to everything
Victoria Alwin, pictured above, shot down all ideas such as an immediate special meeting to consult with an attorney who deals with such cases as negotiations and bankruptcies.
Apparently, the board knew of this attorney, as Kay Knight, re-elected to the board, explained to an audience member just how much money has been spent on the "old debt" which is the anchor for the hospital.
Knight explained how many management companies took away millions from this hospital over the last two decades, and how the hospital has paid not the 22 million, but millions more, for this hospital a prisoner of a state insurer CAL MTG.
"...it just goes on and on and on," she explained.
It got GROSS
As Knight explained the history to an audience member, an obviously irritated, Robert Gross, interrupted and began telling her it can't be done, we can't negotiate or fight Cal Mtg.
His aggressive tone lead the question, "when you get this advice and it won't work will you finally stop this campaign?"
Gross explained he thought there is no way to win because Cal Mtg. has bigger attorneys and the attorney the board and administration nobody heard of until recent, was no match for the big guys up in Sacramento.
But, I jumped in and told them I had done my own research and yes, would like them to consult with this attorney.
"Then will you agree to talk to him and not hide it from us for eight months?"
Alwin, forgetting she is the EMPLOYEE, the ELECTED OFFICIAL, the servant of the people, immediately quashed the idea with an arrogant tone not taken well by people at the meeting and people who watch these videos I make.
"We would have to agree to it as a board and we have yet to do that," she slowly but surely told me.
"When are you going to do it, can't we begin trying at least to do this?" I asked.
"not yet," she finished and brushed me off.
"Okay, that's all I needed to hear," I close the discussion and this one as well.
They will not fight for you
At one point in the meeting, outgoing board member of 22 years, Bradley Armstrong, jumped in and told me that they had already tried the route of negotiation with Cal Mtg., in fact, he even went to Sacramento.
"Yeah and you went to Nashville too, we will take that up later, " I told the board member who took free trips in 2000 on the BRIM management company ticket. Meaning gifts and misappropriation of public funds backed up by documents I have obtained.
Why won't they fight
Tim McGlew, the CEO, has a very nice salary, as does CFO, Chet Beedle, and any rocking of the boat against the "Gulag Archipelago" program of CAL MTG., would mean instant termination.
However, CAL MTG. has some very important issues to worry about themselves in regard to this hospital and the way the whole operation from feasibility to selling government bonds to construction, to over paid management companies, to lines of credit, and now to the constant attempt to get this community pay the insurer's own debt via GOB measures such as M and G.
We didn't know it as a community we are collateral of the old debt, but CAL MTG., is the insurer, and as such, needs to pay off this contract and leave us alone. Without that debt we could obtain credit.
The community can't get these roadblocks out of the way, namely, the CEO, CFO, but also Dr. Gross who does know about attorneys as he himself began a lawsuit against the hospital in 2007 for the "misunderstanding" the kids call it now, over Sienna Wellness, which was supposed to be so much more, say an urgent care?
I'll admit to foot dragging
Gross who was recently demoted from Treasurer of the board by the Kern County Grand Jury, did admit that the hospital had been dragging it's feet in regards to the financial issues.
Yes, we had a meeting set for March of last year derailed by our CFO, Beedle, who didn't want to upset the applecart spewing apples.
Let me save you from their logic
I hear people all the time argue and not even realize for a moment what they are saying. The only argument they could conjure after the loss of the "no plan" money grab, measure G, was that fighting CAL MTG. had already been done.
HELLO...we have considered at least six GOB, tax measures since 1988, and the three that made it to the ballot all failed.
Is there not a small chance we could maybe try something different? Or that we fight for our community? Or that we listen to fellow board members and do not verbally assault them after a meeting?
Of course.
And a good fight would be to go straight for the old debt and CAL MTG.
At the very least we should have been told we could consult, not "retain" as Dr. Gross kept insisting, these attorneys as well as other specialists to begin a true plan.
Maybe it's me, but I think we can do this, IF we stick together. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen, so it may take a different course of action to get this vehicle out of reverse.
If they rid themselves of the debt they will be able to obtain credit, and then create a proper program with the community's needs in mind, and not create a money pit by putting a new building on an ancient structure.
What is the seismic deadline?
McGlew was asked after all the negative campaigning, are we able to meet the seismic requirements since the money was lost.
He told them a few things about the HAZUS report which allows us until 2030 to replace or retrofit the building.
THAT'S 20 years from now. We could be planning for the future and taking care of the present if we had the courage.
No, I take that back, if the board and administrators were not so tied to this hospital financially, they would likely fight. But they all have something to lose...right?
After the election threats
Well, I expected the building to be empty after all the threats which took place by the district during the campaign.
But watch out for Plan B, as plan A was not really a plan, but a Plan B will be the prelude to the most likely "special election" in February. The company which sells the bonds which comes from our projected property tax base, Caldwell Flores and Winters, are specialists in those costly elections.
That is how they got a recent bond in Tehachapi which is paying on three property tax bonds, and is expected someday to actually have the hospital they are paying for.
There is no way for them to function properly
Sorry to say the hospital and their administrators, though called for an urgent bond from us, tried to side step the whole issue, and quickly get through their meeting.
It is apparent that the board and administration have taken the stance that certain members of club Kindergarten, will not become open minded, but simply want your money.
No. I promise that won't happen.
Pictures and documents paint a thousand words
This blog contains 606 documents, pictures, and correspondence, and now you can view it all by going to the new Picasa Album site. Some people don't like to read, but this is all the dressing, not the salad. Not all, but much of it.
And I will be creating more albums that are more accessible, meaning less pictures, and with a story and title, and the site will soon be embedded into the blog.
These are "slideshows" much like a power point presentation. I'll be working on this now, and will update with any news of import, but a new product, learning tool, will be put in effect soon.
Currently up is the "PHOTO PHEST" from the November 3, post election board meeting. It is must see.
If you have any problems opening this link, please contact me, as this is a brand new project I think will be an informational and visual tool to explain what has happened here at the Kern Valley Healthcare District. (EVENTUALLY)
