Legacy has been contacted and would agree to open URGENT
CARE 24/7, have 4 extra observation beds, full time doctors, have it up and running in about two months, with a little help from us the taxpayers, this idea would cost you the taxpayers a whole lot less and have the same services. THINK ABOUT IT! SPEAK OUT AND LETS STOP THIS HOSPITAL TO NO-WHERE.

The hospital board did not have the courtesy to attend the public meeting that was presented by the opponents on Feb. 12, 08 who are against the new version of a hospital, which does not resemble the Critical Access Hospital that was presented to the voters in 2004. The Hospital Board opted to send their attorney Mr. Lilly. Questions from the 20 or so people who attended the meeting was answered by Mr. Lilly, although Lilly who admitted that he was a real estate attorney could not answer all the questions. What I find ironic is that the hospital's mouthpiece Lilly, used this excuse at times when he did not want to actually answer the question to its fullest, in my opinion Mr. Lilly used lawyer jargon to adequately not answer the questions.

This group of people have taken the attitude that come hell or high water this new proposal will be built whether the community can afford the tremendous costs or not. This board continues to stand by the idea that they may someday get the Critical Access label, even though we are not subject to the designation by the federal government, by living with in the 35 mile radius of other hospitals. St. Helens can never get this designation thus decreasing the federal reimbursements of Medicare /Medicaid. Again adding to the total operating costs, and again adding to the out of pocket expenses to the patient. Who will make up these short falls? YOU the TAXPAYER'S.

Don't you wonder why, no big hospitals have not built in St. Helens? the answer is simple, it is NOT COST EFFECTITIVE! Have you wondered why this board has taken the taxpayers down a path to financial ruin? I have but again the board will not answer these simple questions.

This board has spent $60 thousand looking for huge private donors to help finance their pipe dream; no such luck! They have now signed a year contract with the same firm at a cost of $120-130 thousand to repeat the failed process.
Board member Heide commented on local KOHI radio show that the hospital board had $2.4 million in the bank WRONG! They have 1-1.4 million in the bank. Why does this board continue to skirt the facts, fog the issue, and give false misleading answers to the public? These questions are plain enough but the answers remain as Wiley as the board members themselves.

I also wonder why two concerned member of the public me being one, was listed in the boards meeting minutes that they have (openly) given Tammy Maygra a wide berth at meetings, does this mean that they are afraid of my pointed questions/ well they should be. Their actions only prove and reinforce what I have been saying all along, this board can not be trusted.

The new figures to build the hospital has come under question, was 11 million then 18 now 24 million who really knows? All I know is that this small hospital district is going to go under once again, the only problem is that even if this board never builds a hospital they can continue to collect tax monies forever and funnel it into public health.

You wonder how this can be, simple, back in 1984 the board changed the name of the hospital district to use the wording health district when they did this with out following proper procedure by advertising to the general public, who by ordinance had the right to question, say no, to this change. This opened the way for the hospital district to include public health in their realm and collect funds with out voter approval, to run public health. PUBLIC HEALTH receives tax funds from the state of Oregon and from Columbia County to finance the program, now public health has the power, can receive/collect more tax dollars with out going to the voter for the ok, so in sense you are being taken. I and other's have raised this issue over the name change, to the county commissioner's, Corsiglia is the only one who realizes what is happening, the other two cant seem to understand that the name change was fundamental in where we are today. The board went to the public for additional fund once before but the voters turned them down, to me this was a back door maneuver by the board.

I wish that the taxpayers would get involved in this important issue, unless they wish to continue to pay forever for something that they will never have.

Legacy has been contacted and would agree to open URGENT CARE 24/7, have 4 extra observation beds, full time doctors, have it up and running in about two months, with a little help from us the taxpayers, this idea would cost you the taxpayers a whole lot less and have the same services.

THINK ABOUT IT! SPEAK OUT AND LETS STOP THIS HOSPITAL TO NO-WHERE.