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

[Tom Ivie]

Donovan,
Fair enough.  I won't "attack" and it is ok to agree to disagree.  Not looking at this situation from hindsight and only looking forward, the solution seems to be Gritman.  That solution does not raise taxes.  You are correct when you say that there is a lot to LHS that I don't know.  

Here is what I do know. 
Gritman Medical  Center would operate the facility for the benefit of our entire county as a Wellness  Center with adult day health and care, wellness classes  etc.   Gritman is not set up to manage or operate an assisted  living facility but would be interested in having an experienced operator do  this.   Thus having Gritman own the facility would make it possible  for Assisted Living to be offered.
 

 Gritman Medical  Center has already shown its competence and good will by taking over the pool  area for one year.   Their ownership would assure the wonderful pool  is permanently available. Gritman will honor the agreement to continue managing the Therapy Pool until September 30,      2007.  This is conditional upon utilities, heat, facilities,      etc. Gritman's      vision is for the ‘Gritman Wellness Center’ and to keep the facility open      to all and at a reasonable price.

Gritman has been      meeting with architects and engineers to look at the possibility of      remodeling and upgrading the facility.  If Gritman were to acquire it, they will need reasonable financing for the remodeling.  This would not      be possible with the existing reversionary clause.  They thought the      Idaho Housing grant/loan might work but the program specifically deals with      ‘housing.’  That might have worked if assisted living services with a      stable operator continued at the site.  With Valley Vista terminating      services and the short time-frame and great cost to apply, they decided not to      pursue that option.  It would probably cost upwards of $100,000 to      apply (including very detailed architect and engineering studies) for those      loans/grants.  If they were not able to acquire the property, it would      all be in vain.  Gritman has the ability to get other financing and at      probably more reasonable rates, terms and
 conditions than would be included      in the Idaho Housing HUD program.

Gritman's plans actually save taxpayers money.  They wouldn't be applying for any grants or subsidized loans from IHA/HUD.  Plus the county wouldn't have to spend taxpayer $$$ upgrading the facility.  No matter what the county would use the building for, it would have to upgrade it.  

Please, call me Tom, we've met. 

 



Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com> wrote: Mr. Ivie,
  
  Sorry, but I disagree. There are some problems that cannot be fixed by one man and with raising taxes. 
  
  There is a lot more to this situation then you know. I really wish you  would stop attacking Jack Nelson. It is not his fault. He is on the  side of the residents.  
  
  Best,
  
  Donovan J Arnold 

Tom Ivie <the_ivies3 at yahoo.com> wrote:    On  second thought, why shouldn't the blame be on Mr. Nelson when he was  the Commissioner's representative on the LHS Board for the last 6 years  and he is the one who knew 1st hand what was needed and did  nothing.  

       

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