Political theater

Editor's note: Due to the length and breadth of discussion at the most recent Saratoga Town Council Meeting, that meeting coverage has been split into three stories.

If it was the intent of Saratoga mayor John Zeiger to begin a conversation about Valley healthcare by inviting Memorial Hospital of Carbon County (MHCC) to the May 21 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, then the over 90 people present at the June 4 meeting would make it appear he succeeded. Due to the expected increase in attendance, the Platte Valley Community Center (PVCC) theater served as temporary council chambers.

During the over four hour long meeting, nearly two hours of public comment had a majority of speakers voicing opposition to any decision to cancel the medical lease between the Town of Saratoga and Health Management Services, LLC (HMS).

As was reported previously (see "Presentation consternation" on page 3 of the May 29 Saratoga Sun), an email sent to Suzie Cox, Saratoga town clerk, contained language for a motion to give HMS notice of intent to cancel the lease of the Corbett Medical Building drafted by Tom Thompson, legal counsel for the Town of Saratoga. This email was provided to the Sun following the council meeting with MHCC in attendance.

Business owners, business leaders and community leaders were among those who addressed the council. Many of them expressed their concern, along with private individuals, about the status of the lease held by HMS.

"When we talk about the possibility of getting rid of a lease, you're not just affecting the residents of this community. You're affecting the residents from the Interstate to the state line," said Rocky Fiedor, owner of Saratoga Auto Parts.

Encampment mayor Greg Salisbury and Riverside mayor Leroy Stephenson also stood before the council. The mayors of the two southern Valley municipalities echoed Fiedor's comments, informing members of the Saratoga Town Council that residents from their respective communities were concerned about the ongoing situation over the medical lease.

Stacy Crimmins, Chief Executive Officer of the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce (S/PVCC), also addressed the council as she read a letter on behalf of the S/PVCC Board of Directors. In the letter, the board of directors voiced their concern for both the availability and sustainability of quality healthcare in the Valley and implored the council to wait for the completed feasibility study before making a decision, adding that any decision should "not be a political decision based on emotion."

"Just as the Chamber would never go into a private business and tell the owners they are doing it wrong, demand that they close up shop, or sabotage its success, a governing body should neither," Crimmins read from the letter.

Among those who spoke was Corbett Medical Foundation member Laura Bucholz, who informed the council that, over the past 10 years, the salaries of providers along with retention packets had become increasingly expensive for the non-profit group. According to Bucholz, the foundation had paid out nearly $1.98 million over the last decade for salary subsidies, equipment and more.

"The clinic could not have survived without these monies," said Bucholz. "So, it is more than just getting a doctor here. They have to be able to sustain the business. We feel strongly that abandoning the current lease and replacing HMS at this juncture would further destabilize healthcare moving forward."

In addition to Bucholz, members of the Healthcare Sustainability Project Subcommittee either spoke or had a letter read. HSPS member Teense Willford, who was out of town, wrote a letter that was read by fellow HSPS member Will Faust.

"We have been very fortunate to have doctors in the past who dedicated their lives to the betterment of its citizens. Times have changed, maybe not for the better, but healthcare is one of the most important parts of our daily lives as well as our future," Willford wrote. "This is no time for accusations, but a time to work together for more benefit for all of us, young and old. There is no easy answer, but I feel confident that we can succeed in maintaining, as well as improving, the system we now have. If we lose either the clinic or the nursing home, I am quite confident we will lose our pharmacy and that would cripple the entire area."

Throughout the public comment period, while other members of the council appeared attentive and receptive, Zeiger seemed to be uninterested in much of what was said. The only time he engaged with anyone during public comment was when Charles Willman asked about the emailed motion.

"I had a letter. That letter was from our attorney. It was something I asked our attorney to write. That was attorney-client privilege. It got out, so I'm not going to discuss it, but yes I had them type something up for consideration," said Zeiger.

When the public comment came to an organic end, the council entered executive session for 45 minutes with attorney Richard Rideout. As the executive session began, the majority of people in attendance left, leaving a handful of attendees remaining

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on June 18 at the Saratoga Town Hall.