Houston County Courier - Local News

Copyright 2012 - Polk County Publishing Company

Hospital district directors set election date; hear report on surgery center construction
Houston County Courier

By Lynda Jones
Managing Editor

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Houston County Hospital District Board of Directors unanimously approved orders and resolutions for the Saturday, May 12 election. The four directors up for re-election are Position 2, Dr. George Beeler; Position 4, Dr. John Stovall; Position 6, Dr. Ray Morrison; and Position 8, Deborah Blackwell. The filing deadline for candidates to be placed on the ballot is 5 p.m. on Monday, March 5. Candidates who file must have a minimum of 100 signatures on a petition to run. Applications may be picked up from Dick Murchison’s office at 500 East Houston Ave. in Crockett. The board unanimously approved holding the May 12 election jointly with the Kennard, Lovelady and Latexo school district elections on Saturday, May 12. Early voting will be conducted at the Houston County Courthouse from April 30 – May 8. The board approved Nancy Hough as the early voting clerk and presiding election judge. Murchison cautioned all dates are subject to change due to the state re-districting issues. He said the dates approved at the meeting are consistent with what currently is on the Texas Secretary of State website. In other business, the board approved the November 2011 meeting minutes and the November and December 2011 financial reports. Murchison noted that two December invoices have not been paid yet because Dr. Patrick Walker has questions about them. The invoices will be discussed at the February meeting. The invoices are from Scott and Strong, a Lufkin engineering firm, and are associated with the “surgery center finish out and physical plant improvements” ($9,710) and “surgery/PACU expansion, mechanical and electrical upgrades” ($15,658.20). Walker is questioning if the HCHD is responsible for the two bills, or if they should be paid by ETMC through the UPL grant for the ETMC Crockett surgery center completion. Another item Walker asked to have placed on next month’s agenda pertains to a request he received from Angelina College to help fund an anatomy and physiology class at the college. The proposed course is a pre-requisite for students interested in the RN track, Walker explained. Additional business included unanimous approval of an engagement letter from Todd, Hamaker & Johnson, LLP to conduct the district’s annual audit. The audit will cost about $9,000, which Murchison said is consistent with previous audit fees paid by HCHD to the firm. Blackwell suggested the board request proposals from additional firms next year, expressing the feeling that $9,000 might be a little high. ETMC Crockett Administrator Terry Cutler reported the HVAC work creating a zero pressure area required for the construction site is complete and the necessary permits to do the surgery center construction have been obtained. Cutler advised the directors that construction work that they can see should start in the next week or so. Blackwell stated the ETMC Lease Renewal Committee has not met since the last board meeting, but would do so this month. Walker indicated he has several concerns about contract compliance and safety issues. Blackwell said the committee will review his notes at its next meeting. Blackwell presided over the Tuesday meeting in the absence of Stovall, who arrived late. Cutler also was late in arriving. Beeler was not in attendance. About 14 members of the public, including several ETMC Crockett employees, were present. There were no public comments made.