Source: dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus
By Becky Brewster
The Culberson County Hospital District met in Regular Session on November 11, 2020. The Board canvassed the returns for the November 3, 2020 election as follows:
DIRECTORS: Anjelica “Angie” Perez 414; Lindsey Tyrrell 309; Cheryl Owen 251.
The Board noted that 881 voters cast ballots for the joint election. Anjelica “Angie” Perez and Lindsey Tyrrell were declared duly elected as Directors of Culberson County Hospital District for the term ending May, 2024. [It was noted that this election was postponed from May 2020 due to COVID-19.]
The Trustees then accepted the resignation of Board member Joe Morales. Morales recently was sworn in as Tax Assessor-Collector of Culberson County. The Board appointed Cheryl Owen to fill the vacancy until the next regular election in May 2022.
Becky Brewster administered the Oaths of Office to Lindsey Tyrrell and Anjelica (Angie) Perez for the term ending May 2024. The Board expressed appreciation to outgoing member Fran Malafronte for her service to Culberson County Hospital District over the last four years. The following slate of officers were elected for the 2020-2022 term:
Laura Reyes as Board President; Angie Perez as Board Vice President; Lindsey Tyrrell as Board Secretary.
Judy Blazek, Project Manager, updated the Board on the parking lot/façade improvements project. Blazek noted that the CMU is nearly completed, and the rock has been scheduled for delivery. Len Slaughter, Project Manager, reported that there was inconsistency with the finishes of a few areas of the concrete due primarily to having delays between pours, and having different crews doing the finishing work. The areas have been either repaired or demolished and repoured as needed. Accessibility issues with the south sidewalk were discussed, noting that there are sufficient accessible entrances into the facility that a slight difference in slope of the sidewalk was acceptable without necessitating the installation of a handrail. It is anticipated that the fabricated steel for the façade canopies will be delivered in late November with an anticipated project completion in December.
The Board authorized the purchase of furniture for the business office, and various other offices. Preferred has ordered new furniture for the hospital patient rooms with an expected delivery date of January 2021. Preferred has also ordered new telemetry equipment.
Hospital Administrator Rick Gray briefed the Board on the Culberson Hospital’s response to the COVID-19, noting that cases are increasing in West Texas with 41 active cases in Van Horn. Gray also reported the El Paso hospitals are at capacity in both regular rooms and COVID units.
Transfers for COVID patients requiring a higher level of care than what is available in Van Horn are being coordinated through the Texas 1-Call system to route transfers with patients being sent as far away as Albuquerque and San Antonio. Trauma patients are still being sent to University Medical Center. Gray reported that all three ambulances were back in service.
Lindsey Tyrrell indicated the need for a crisis management plan in place to handle a spike in COVID-19 cases. CDC guidelines for testing were discussed, noting that the community needs to be educated on the guidelines to know when they should be tested.
In other business, the Culberson County Hospital District:
Approved the consent agenda.
Approved a resolution updating the signature cards at the bank.
Acknowledged a correction to a refund approved by an ARB ruling.
Approved a letter of support for the Town of Van Horn’s proposed grant application to the US Economic Development Administration for water system improvements.
