[Vision2020] Att. Latah County Commissioners: RE: Latah Health Services

Thu Dec 7 09:59:33 PST 2006

Donovan,
Blame misdirected or not, wasn't it the responsibility of the commissioners (past and present) to provide adequate upkeep on the building since the arrangement was a lease?  I don't know Mr. Nelson, but everyone says he is a likable guy.  But at the last Latah Health Board meeting he said the commissioners wouldn't be fixing one of the two boilers in the building because the courthouse only has one and it operates just fine.  Well, it is my understanding that there aren't any assisted living occupants living in the courthouse 24/7.  That was said before the Board announced it would disband Latah Health and terminate all leases and agreements.  As an employee, you surely have some stories about the neglectful upkeep.  

You are correct, not all the blame should fall on Mr. Nelson.  But definitely some should.  It is one thing to go around and talk to residents and staff, it is another to provide avenues for funding for the organization.  Mr. Nelson has been in office for 6 yrs during which time the organization has not had a long term lease.  The Idaho Housing Authority has had available for LHS a lot of HUD money on the condition it could get a longer lease from the county.  The county (which is the commissioners, Jack et al.) has literally dragged it's heels.  If they would have given them a longer lease, LHS would have applied for the funds (grants and loans) and used the funds to upgrade the building and fix the problems.  Instead, the county now has a building that is way out of code and needs millions to fix it.  Pass a bond?  I don't think so!  Not in this day and age.  

The best alternative the county has at this point is to sell the building to Gritman.  To sell it to Gritman does not require a vote of the people.  The only thing that would require a vote is if Gritman wanted to sell the building later (Idaho Code T.31 sec. 3515).  Without the vote, the building would revert back to the county if Gritman didn't want to run it.  Worst case scenario for the county is that the people vote to let Gritman sell the building at some point in time.  Best case scenario is that the county gets a building reverted back to them that will be in better shape than it is right now.  

Gritman is the county's opportunity to get that building upgraded and into good shape.  Gritman will apply for the funds and they have a proven record of getting things done.  However, there is a deadline for applying for those funds and it is the end of Janurary.  If the county continues to drag it's heels and doesn't act soon, the funds will revert back to HUD and will not be available in Idaho.  

Blame or no blame, action is needed NOW by the commissioners.  

Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com> wrote: Jim,

  As one of the last employees to leave Latah Health Services, I can tell you that it was not an uncommon site to see Jack Nelson visiting and helping the residents. Say what you will, but Nelson really does love those residents. 

  The reasons for closing the "Skilled Nursing" section of the facility was far more complicated than just proper funding. None of the residents were kicked out into the cold.

  It was frustrating, painful, and unfair what happened. I have family members that dedicated their life to that facility. But trying to put the blame on Jack is just unfair, and your interpretation of what happened is not a correct. 

  I share you anger and frustration though, that is justified, but misdirected at the wrong people. 

  Best,

  Donovan J Arnold

Jim Meyer <m1e2y3e4 at moscow.com> wrote:
  Dear Commissioners,

At some point in the recent past it might have been appropriate to ask 
Latah County voters whether or not there should be a Latah Health 
Services. Unfortunately, the voters were not asked that question and you 
all as county commissioners took it upon yourselves to make that 
decision on your own in the form of incompetent management and 
intentional neglect. The voters trusted you to do a good job and you did 
not. Over the years, you were lazy, unimaginative, and uninterested. 
Shame on you. Shame on you for making it impossible for Latah Health 
Services to maintain quality nursing care. Shame on you for not 
providing money for building upkeep. Shame on your for not applying for 
available grants. Shame on you for  putting the remaining residents out 
in the cold at Christmas. Shame on you for letting a publicly supported 
facility go to ruin. Your legacy is shame.

It seems clear that even now, with deadlines approaching, you may still 
be unwilling to perform your collective duty to the citizens of Latah 
County to salvage whatever is left of the facility/pool. Especially you, 
Jack Nelson.--You with rumored intention to resign long before your 
term is up--You whose priority appears to be a new office and of course, 
preserving your commission seat for an appointed buddy should you resign 
early. By appearances, all of you care more about yourselves and next to 
nothing about the poor suckers who are being evicted with less notice 
than necessitated by law when students are evicted by landlords. You 
guys are just plain mean or incompetent or both. And by the way, you 
shouldn't be trusted with offices so far out of the way that nobody can  
see you aren't working. Lastly, you should all hope you yourselves don't 
end up in a neglected facility (or kicked out into the street) when you 
reach old age.

So what can you do to redeem yourselves? Sell the facility to Gritman 
Medical Center in a timely and well thought out manner. At this point 
there doesn't seem to be much choice and they are doing a good job. 
Make sure the current residents are not abandoned. Do what you can to 
preserve at least the pool by working with Gritman Medical Center in 
good faith. You were entrusted to work for the citizens of Latah county. 
Time to do your job and do it well.

Sincerely,

Jim and Kim Meyer

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