Committee asks MWC voters to say yes to Prop 5
by Vicki Middleton
Midwest City residents who voted in the last two mayoral elections should have received a letter in the mail this week from the Citizens for a Better Midwest City committee.
The letter, supported by 15 community members, asked voters to approve five propositions the City of Midwest City has called for in the Tuesday, Oct. 8 election.
Co-chairmen former state Sen. Dave Herbert and former state Rep. Bill Case signed the letter. Other committee members listed included: Tom Blanton, Jack Fry, Pam Hall, Bobbie & Gene Howard, Jim Howell, Archie Huston Rella Johnson, Dara McGlamery, Bert Norton, Fred Quinn, Eddie Reed, Russell Smith, Pam Teply and Edea Young.
In the letter, the committee explained each of the five propositions, but went into the most detail about Proposition 5. This proposition asks permission for the Midwest City Memorial Hospital Authority to access up to $50 million from the Compounded Principal in the Authority’s account to negotiate a new hospital lease for Midwest Regional Medical Center.
The committee’s letter stated that Proposition 5’s approval will "not results in new or increased fees or taxes" and that the $50 million would be "withdrawn from the Authority’s current funds on hand."
Authority members have previously stated they only plan on using the funds to cover costs associated with the termination of the hospital’s existing lease agreement with Health Management Associates and to acquire a new lessee. In 1996, the Authority leased the hospital to HMA after operating the hospital themselves for 34 years (since 1962). That lease contract is set to expire in 2048.
Over the summer, MRMC and its parent company, HMA, came under scrutiny after concerns were expressed about the lack of quality medical care service and treatment of employees. Then a more broad development came about when HMA announced it was going to be acquired by another hospital corporation, Community Health Services.
Authority and city officials have stated that even in spite of HMA’s possible acquisition, they still wanted to press forward with the Oct. 8 election. If CHS acquires HMA, this would put MRMC with a new lessee, and stated in the two parties’ contract, the Authority must approve any new third-party, which in this case could be CHS.
On Wednesday, Midwest Regional CEO Damon Brown released the following statement in regard to the Oct. 8 election:
"Midwest Regional Medical Center will respect whatever decision voters make in the referendum.
"We are extremely proud of the high quality care provided to our patients by our 1200 Associates and 300 physicians. Last year we provided $102 million in uncompensated care along with $200,000 in community sponsorships. We are dedicated to advancing our mission of providing high-quality care for the community and to continually enhancing that care. No matter the outcome, MRMC will remain a vital part of this community."
Prop 5 Details
Mayor Jack Fry told the EastWord News that he hopes the Authority does not have to access any of the $50 million, but if they need to, they will only spend what they believe is absolutely necessary.
He explained that his understanding is that the HMA and CHS acquisition is most likely going to go through. The Federal Corporation Commission has already approved the deal and each of the company’s board of directors. The final piece, he said, is the approval of stockholders, which will take place in December.
Fry said the Authority can either decide to have CHS run the hospital or to have another entity do so. Anticipated costs associated with having a new lessee includes performing any maintenance that may need to be addressed before the new lessee takes residence, legal fees, appraisal of the hospital to know its value to be able to negotiate in good faith and to operate the hospital until a new lessee is approved, the mayor said.
"The perfect scenario would be to not have to spend any of this money, but we don’t know what’s going to happen so we need to be prepared," Fry said.
Other Oct. 8 propositions include the following: Propositions 1-3 propose changes to the city’s charter to make it consistent with state law and Oklahoma County Election Board requirements. Proposition 4 asks for salary increases for the mayor ($200 to $400 monthly) and councilmembers ($200 to $300 monthly).
In order to pass, all five propositions need a majority vote, Fry said.
Look for full election results in next week’s edition on Oct. 10 and also posts on election night on our website and Facebook page.
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