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<DIV><SPAN class=968310322-12012007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>For
decades the residents of Latah County have not cared enough to save LHS.
It is not too late of course, but are they willing to step to walk the
talk? There's more than one solution, but I suspect this vote will show
what they talk about.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968310322-12012007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=968310322-12012007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Mark</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> <IMG height=90 alt="" hspace=0 src="cid:968310322@12012007-1c7a"
width=109 border=0><BR><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">mark r. seman,
architect</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">
v=928.925.7617</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">
f=928.776.9107</SPAN><BR></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]<B>On
Behalf Of </B>Donovan Arnold<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, January 12, 2007 12:37
PM<BR><B>To:</B> Craine Kit; vision2020<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020]
Selling Latah Health Services<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>The major problem with the Latah Health Services Building shutting down
is not that people won't get care, they will.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It is not that Gritman won't use the building for Health Care Services,
it will.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The problem is not that Latah Residents don't pay enough taxes, they
do. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The problem is that those not on Private Care will be shipped out of the
community the moment they are no longer independent and their families and
friends are no longer able to care for them. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Imagine when you are no longer independent, vulnerable to the decisions
of other people that don't know you, afraid, lonely, and confused as to where
you are going, and now you have to be shipped out of the county, maybe even to
another state, away from friends, family, neighbors, and the town and people
you know. That is what bothers me, that Latah families can longer visit their
Mother when she becomes unable to care for herself, that is the tragedy and
what makes me so sad. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Latah isn't just for those that are rich, it is suppose to be for
everyone, the entire community. That building is a symbol and a place for
those that are NOT RICH to be able to come and live and still be with their
families. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>IF we sell that building to Gritman or anyone, yes, we might open
some new doors to other forms of health care, but what concerns me is the door
that we are shutting on those that are in most need of an open door,
permanently. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Before you go and vote YES for a dream, think about WHO you are
saying NO to at the same time and what a nightmare you will be creating for
them, and perhaps yourself that call Latah home. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The building is shut down now, yes, but that doesn't mean we should give
up hope on our future and the welfare of the elderly and disabled in our
community ten weeks after things look grim. I believe that Latah can
overcome this challenge and bring back a building that is needed and will be
needed; to reopen the doors to a place that isn't just a building, but was a
home to many great Moscow and Latah Residents that built this county, brought
you so many opportunities, and made this community what it was when you
decided to live in Latah.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sincerely,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Donovan J. Arnold</DIV>
<DIV>CNA and Former LHS Employee<BR><BR><B><I>Craine Kit
<kcraine@verizon.net></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Here's
my thoughts on the proposal to sell Latah Health Services to <BR>Gritman
and/or drop the reversionary clause.<BR><BR>For at least ten years, a series
of County Commissioners--acting on <BR>behalf of we-the-taxpayers--have
failed to provide enough funding to <BR>maintain the buildings. Based on my
visits to the facility during the <BR>last few years, it has now moldered to
a point where it soon will be <BR>uninhabitable. It will take a massive
infusion of money to bring the <BR>facilities up to code for use as a living
facility. I wouldn't be <BR>surprised if the estimated million dollars is
not enough to do that.<BR><BR>Are we-the-taxpayers of Latah County willing
to add how-ever-many <BR>dollars to our property taxes in order to raise a
million or more to <BR>save the structure?<BR><BR>For how-ever-many years,
the state legislature--acting on behalf of <BR>we-the-taxpayers--has failed
to fund Medicaid well enough to cover <BR>the cost of keeping someone in an
assisted living facility. If the <BR>facility is going to survive, it must
make up the difference by <BR>bringing in paying customers or finding some
other source of revenue. <BR>The most reliable source would be the Latah
County taxpayer's pocket.<BR><BR>Are we-the-taxpayers of Latah County
willing to add how-ever-many <BR>dollars to our property taxes in order to
help pay the bills of <BR>people who are unable to do it themselves? As
individuals, how much <BR>would you be willing to pay to live in one drafty,
asbestos <BR>contaminated room with a shared bathroom down the hall? Would
you be <BR>willing to pitch in enough extra to cover the shortfall from the
<BR>Medicaid person next door?<BR><BR>We-the-taxpayers of Latah County have
not been willing to dig into <BR>our pockets to adequately fund LHS's
operations. Will that change if <BR>we-the-taxpayers vote down the proposed
string-free sale to Gritman?<BR><BR>Suppose we sell LHS to Gritman or
someone else and keep the <BR>revisionary clause. What are we-the-taxpayers
going to do if we get <BR>it back?<BR><BR>Unfortunately, I think LHS as we
know it is gone. I can't see we-the- <BR>taxpayers of Latah County reversing
course 180-degrees and taxing <BR>themselves enough to meet LHS's needs. So,
the question is what do we <BR>do?<BR><BR>Do we board it up and let it decay
into dust?<BR><BR>Do we sell it to someone who hopefully has the will and
resources to <BR>keep it alive as some sort of public health
facility?<BR><BR>Do we sell it to a private sector
developer?<BR><BR>Personally, I think selling to Gritman without the
reversionary <BR>clause is a gamble. They may not be able to make it work.
They might <BR>put a million into the property then sell it. But, I think
Gritman is <BR>our best bet for keeping the facility as a place for health
care and <BR>in local hands.<BR><BR>Kit Craine<BR><BR><BR>On Jan 10, 2007,
at 4:12 PM, lfalen wrote:<BR><BR>><BR>><BR>>> Thanks
Jerry<BR>>> I hope that the Commissioners read Murf's Editorial. If
the <BR>>> February vote is only to remove the reversionary clause I
will <BR>>> vote to remove it. If it is tied to Gritman I will vote
against <BR>>> it. Again Gritman may be the best bet., but lets look
at all <BR>>> options. If one of the organizations is Spokane is
interested in <BR>>> it, we need to know what their proposals
are.<BR>>><BR>>> Roger<BR>>> -----Original
message-----<BR>>> From: Jerry Weitz gweitz@moscow.com<BR>>>
Date: Tue, 09 Jan 2007 23:53:17 -0800<BR>>> To: lfalen
lfalen@turbonet.com, "Donovan Arnold" <BR>>>
donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com, "Debbie Gray" graylex@yahoo.com, <BR>>>
vision2020 vision2020@moscow.com<BR>>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020]
Selling Latah Health Services<BR>>><BR>>>> About two weeks
ago, I contacted two nursing homes in the Spokane<BR>>>> area. Both
of which were/are care givers to family members. <BR>>>> Both
made<BR>>>> inquiries to the commissioners. I asked both to contact
Gritman <BR>>>> and B J<BR>>>> Swanson. I was the dental
consultant (unpaid)for Latah Health <BR>>>> for
years<BR>>>> and thus would like to see skilled nursing/ long term
care remain <BR>>>> in the<BR>>>> area. Having to send
folks out of town and maybe out of reach of <BR>>>> family
and<BR>>>> friends is not in the area's best
interest.<BR>>>><BR>>>> Both of the long term care
facilities are private. The nursing home<BR>>>> industry is highly
regulated. Some, in the industry, say it is more<BR>>>> regulated
than the nuclear power industry. Thus, LHS, due to its<BR>>>>
structure and its limited ability to use its property as
collateral,<BR>>>> was at a distinct
disadvantage.<BR>>>><BR>>>> One of the Spokane privates
delivers a substantial amount of <BR>>>> indigent<BR>>>>
care. This home has 84 skilled nursing beds, 120 regular beds,
<BR>>>> and a<BR>>>> physical therapy unit. Its facilities
are on par with Good Sam. <BR>>>> The other<BR>>>> has
about 34 skilled nursing, a substantial assisted living
capacity<BR>>>> and very high end. Both were interested in
committing to our <BR>>>> area under<BR>>>> the right
conditions. My impression,after one of the CEO's talked <BR>>>>
with BJ,<BR>>>> was that Gritman wanted to retain control and the
nursing home <BR>>>> would be<BR>>>> secondary players.
Frankly, I do not know if this would work. <BR>>>> We, as
a<BR>>>> community, may want to explore our future needs
recognizing <BR>>>> Gritman as a<BR>>>> great asset, but
not a long term care provider.<BR>>>><BR>>>> I think that
we are being rushed into a corner without exploring <BR>>>>
other<BR>>>> possibilities and agree with Murf on just voting on
the reversionary<BR>>>> clause. I certainly do not want to have
Gritman lose interest, <BR>>>> have the<BR>>>> facility
change into a housing development, or confuse the
public.<BR>>>><BR>>>> Jerry (Just returned from 10 days in
sunny Arizona)<BR>>>><BR>>>><BR>>>> At 10:12 AM
1/5/07, lfalen wrote:<BR>>>>> Donovan has some good points here.
What is the hurry in putting <BR>>>>> it to
the<BR>>>>> voters? The only thing left is the pool and Gritman
is running <BR>>>>> it. Why<BR>>>>> spend $20,00 on
a vote that has only the option of Gritman or <BR>>>>> the
status<BR>>>>> quo? Would not it have been better to publicly
solicit interest <BR>>>>> from<BR>>>>> prospective
bidders. There are two unsolicited bidders offering <BR>>>>> in
excess<BR>>>>> of $200,000, both of which would keep the pool
open. Why would <BR>>>>> it have not<BR>>>>> been
wise to see who else was interested, before a costly vote
<BR>>>>> is taken<BR>>>>> and might result in
putting us back were we are now. Gritman may <BR>>>>> very
well<BR>>>>> be the best bet, but we do not know that.
Apparently a group in <BR>>>>> Spokane<BR>>>>> was
interested in it as assisted living facility. All options
<BR>>>>> should<BR>>>>> be on the table before a
costly vote is taken.<BR>>>>><BR>>>>>
Roger<BR>>>>> -----Original message-----<BR>>>>>
From: Donovan Arnold donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com<BR>>>>> Date:
Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:41:41 -0800<BR>>>>> To: Debbie Gray
graylex@yahoo.com, vision2020 <BR>>>>>
vision2020@moscow.com<BR>>>>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Selling
Latah Health Services<BR>>>>><BR>>>>>>
Debbie,<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> My first fear is
that the building will no longer be used to <BR>>>>>>
provide<BR>>>>> a place of care for the indigent elderly and
disabled members of <BR>>>>> the<BR>>>>> Palouse
community. I think that in the near future a building <BR>>>>>
will be<BR>>>>> needed for this
purpose.<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> My second fear is
that the county will be duped, in that the <BR>>>>>>
building<BR>>>>> will not be used for the purposes that Gritman
wishes due to <BR>>>>> high costs<BR>>>>> of
renovation and maintenance. I think that the building will
<BR>>>>> simply be<BR>>>>> used as office space
leased out by Gritman. What else can they <BR>>>>>
possibly<BR>>>>> afford to use the building for? The renovation
costs to convert <BR>>>>> that<BR>>>>> building for
what they want will cost more than just building a <BR>>>>> new
building.<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> My third major
fear is that millions of dollars that the <BR>>>>>>
taxpayers<BR>>>>> have invested over the last 50 years into the
building will be <BR>>>>> tossed, or<BR>>>>> given
away. We will be losing a multimillion dollar investment
<BR>>>>> because we<BR>>>>> don't want or cannot
spend the money to maintain and repair the <BR>>>>>
building<BR>>>>> at this moment in
time.<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> The generation that
fought in WWII and understands sacrifice,<BR>>>>> sacrificed to
have that building build so that they, their <BR>>>>> children
and<BR>>>>> grandchildren would have a decent place to live in
the event <BR>>>>> that they<BR>>>>> lose their
independence.<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> I would be
willing to sell the building to Gritman provided <BR>>>>>>
that:<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> 1) The therapy pool
was kept open and maintained for members <BR>>>>>> of
the<BR>>>>> community<BR>>>>>> 2) In the event
that Gritman could not start the <BR>>>>>> modifications
as<BR>>>>> promised within five years, the building ownership
reverts back <BR>>>>> to Latah.<BR>>>>>> 3) That
the building be used for Non-Profit community needs <BR>>>>>>
ONLY.<BR>>>>>> 4) That any offers to maintain and operate the
facility as an<BR>>>>> assisted living of skilled nursing
facility take precedence over <BR>>>>> any<BR>>>>>
other proposals for use of the
space.<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>>
Best,<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> Donovan J
Arnold<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> PS, I would not be
overly objective to using a portion of the<BR>>>>> building as
an alternative High School.<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>>
PSS, Why does Gritman want to own the portion of property
<BR>>>>>> where the<BR>>>>> child care center is
located?<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> Debbie Gray
<GRAYLEX@YAHOO.COM>wrote:<BR>>>>>> So what are the main
complaints against this proposal?<BR>>>>>> That Gritman might
change their mind and not provide<BR>>>>>> the services they
are intending? That Latah County is<BR>>>>>> somehow going to
lose out by letting this happen<BR>>>>>>
because....?<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> Too tired to
devil's advocate myself,<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>>
Debbie Gray<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>> --- "B. J.
Swanson" wrote:<BR>>>>>><BR>>>>>>>
Visionaries,<BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>>
Gritman Medical Center's Proposal to Purchase
and<BR>>>>>>> Letter of Intent
regarding<BR>>>>>>> Latah Health Services can be found by
visiting<BR>>>>>>> Gritman's website (the
front<BR>>>>>>> page) at www.gritman.org
,<BR>>>>>>> and clicking on
the<BR>>>>>>> "Proposal to Purchase and Letter to Latah
County<BR>>>>>>> Regarding Latah
Health<BR>>>>>>> Services" link in the bottom right hand
corner.<BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>>
Gritman will continue to update the website with<BR>>>>>>>
more information and plans<BR>>>>>>> as they become
available.<BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>>
Thank
you.<BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>>
B. J.
Swanson<BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>>><BR>>>>>>
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