Support for hospital hot topic at council meeting

HALEYVILLE - Following a mixed vote from the Haleyville City Council Tuesday, Feb. 17, on giving Lakeland Community Hospital $109,000 in money not to be repaid, several residents from an overflowing crowd addressed the council, claiming lack of city support for the hospital.
These concerns reached a fever-pitch recently after the council sent a letter by police officer to Lakeland, informing them the hospital’s request for a $1 million loan from the City of Haleyville had been denied and over a week after the Winston County Commission voted at their February 9, meeting to approve a $1 million transition loan to Lakeland.
These issues brought an overflowing crowd to the Haleyville City Hall courtroom for the council’s regular meeting February 17.
“We don’t have all of our members present, but we have spent most of the day, we brought somebody in to go through our accounts to find out...As you know, I know a lot of you may be here about the hospital tonight,” Haleyville Mayor Dr. Ray Boshell began, addressing the large audience.  Council member Boo Brooks was absent from the meeting due to some health related issues, with Cade Lewis absent due to his grandmother’s illness, the mayor had earlier mentioned.
“We tried to look to find out what can we do,” Boshell added.
Boshell then stated the city has funds set aside known as opioid funds, which have been used to purchase a K-9 unit.
“Right now, there’s $109,000 in (that account),” Boshell further stated. “It has been discussed, these are funds we could do without, and it would not put us in a situation,” Boshell informed the public.
“We have discussed with the council and most of them are in agreement, that we can go ahead and give those funds,” Boshell pointed out. “We are not asking for any repayment. That will help at least on what the city can do for the hospital.”
Boshell then asked for a motion from the council, for immediate consideration on giving the $109,000 to the hospital, with Brian Berry making the motion, seconded by Todd Barton.
All council members voted for the topic to be voted on immediate consideration.
However, when time came to actually approve the city giving the hospital $109,000, there was a mixed vote.
Berry made the motion, with Barton seconding for the actual giving of funding.  Council Member Colton Corum abstained from the vote.
Voting in favor were Berry, Barton and Boshell, so the motion carried.

Corum reads
 statement after 
abstaining from vote

After the vote, Corum wanted to go on record to make a statement regarding a comment he had recently posted on social media regarding the city’s stance of financially assisting Lakeland hospital.
“As some of you are aware, there was a letter that was sent to the hospital and signed by the mayor and the council,” Corum began.
“It is saying the city would be denying the $1 million bridge loan request from the hospital,” Corum added. “I signed that letter based off some information, some information that was misleading.
“Now knowing the truth and what I have heard and know in research, I would not have signed that letter without fully knowing all the information,” Corum spoke out. 
“I am in full support of meeting with the hospital and learning what the loan request is for.”
Boshell then spoke out before the city began accepting public comments on the hospital issue, stating he wanted to address false information concerning allegations the city would not meet with the hospital to discuss issues.
“That is not exactly accurate,” Boshell said. “Before taking office, we met with hospital leadership and received a financial presentation.
“Once sworn in, any meeting involving council business must be public,” Boshell added. “Shortly after taking office, we were contacted about financial concerns, and then asked to provide a million dollar loan.
“We requested detailed financial information and reviewed the city’s finances to determine whether it would be responsible to do so,” Boshell continued.
“The documents provided showed that this was not a short-term bridge, but a repayment period of four to five years,” Boshell stated.
“After reviewing everything, we determined it wouldn’t be financially responsible for the city,” Boshell pointed out. “Haleyville is in good financial shape and a million dollars would change that.
“Another meeting would not change the financial reality,” Boshell added. “We showed tonight we did find $109,000, and we’re giving that freely. We’re not asking for any payback on that.”
Boshell then said the city would open up for any comments. 
At this point, City Attorney John McReynolds  advised that each person would be allowed to speak two minutes, with 10 total minutes allotted for the public comments portion of the meeting.
“Let’s just be orderly,” Boshell then informed the audience. “There’s a microphone up here, if you want to come up.”

Lack of 
communication 
between city and hospital, CEO claims

The first to address the council was Cherie Sibley, CEO and president of Lakeland Community Hospital, who came to the front of the room at the microphone, citing communication issues between the city and the hospital.
“My husband would also like to speak, but he will give me his two minutes, so I will have four,” Sibley began.
Sibley noted she had not only brought a prepared statement, but also some documents that she presented to the council.
“Much has been said this week about the hospital and I am here to set our record straight,” Sibley stated.
“First, in December, when we learned that we were to receive our new rural health designation--Critical Access Hospital--I sent a request to you, mayor, and city clerk, asking to meet and discuss a potential bridge loan to assist us in the transition,” Sibley explained.
“Without Critical Access, I am not sure the hospital would be successful,” Sibley added. 
Sibley gave the mayor and council members copies of two separate emails. “You requested several documents that we promptly provided, so that you, the council, could review it prior to the meeting,” she said.
“Last week, however, I received a letter delivered by one of your fine police officers denying the request, with no meeting, no discussion, no phone call,” Sibley pointed out.
“Even though in those emails, you stated you would meet with us,” Sibley added. 
“As one of the top five largest businesses in this city, and one that impacts the local economy by over $40 million annually through taxes, utilities, salaries and other expenditures, we felt a letter without dialogue was disheartening.  I am not certain the full council was aware that a meeting had been requested,” Sibley continued.
Sibley also stated that the city has been unresponsive in other matters relating to the hospital, such as a request from Lakeland to have their plant operations and disaster planning director attend a recent city meeting about inclement weather.
During this past statement, Sibley was reminded, “First two minutes are up,” by McReynolds.
In November, the city received a letter from Healthcare Authority Chairman Roger Hayes requesting Sibley’s reappointment to the authority board, but that request has been pending for months, Sibley continued.
“If I was a paranoid person, I might think this was personal toward me or toward the hospital, but I sincerely hope that is not the case,” Sibley said.
Sibley then referred to a recent statement Boshell had made on the City of Haleyville’s Mayor’s Facebook page, where he referenced receiving a letter requesting a meeting in May.
“This was not the first request. This was my second formal request to meet with you and talk about the bridge loan,” she stated. 
“You also said that you cannot support us and the city,” Sibley continued. “Let me be clear. Today the $1.2 million comes from the citizens, not you, not your budget.”
Around this point, McReynolds reminded Sibley she had 30 seconds remaining.
“Let me be clear,” Sibley continued. “I would never ask, nor would I ever ask, for an additional tax to be placed on the citizens of Haleyville or Winston County.”
Sibley then stressed when the present city administration took office, they had $4.8 million in reserves, including $2 million in certificates of deposit, and $2.8 million allocated for grants and operations.
“We make a difference. We save lives, but we also are an economic driver to this community.  When hospitals shut down, businesses shut down.  Industries leave,” Sibley said.
“Ma’am, your time is up,” McReynolds advised Sibley.
“I am asking you to reconsider a meeting,” Sibley continued addressing the mayor and council. She then thanked them and took her seat in the audience.
“Thank you,” Corum told her.