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Tehachapi Hospital Groundbreaking Commemorative Section — Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Tehachapi News
Gas station owner wants Tehachapi Area Association of Realtors to share in excitement Adil Saleen, owner of the Sunnyview Gas Spot — known by most as the Texaco station on Capital Hills Parkway next to Danny’s — is really exicited about the new hospital under construction nearby. He’s so excited, in fact, that on the day of the groundbreaking he plans to sell gas at less than his wholesale cost — and he’ll be giving away 16 ounce coffees from 6 a.m. to noon that day and 16-ounce fountain sodas from noon to midnight.
The special is good only on the day of the groundbreaking, Thursday, March 28. Workers on the hospital construction project will likely find Sunnyview a convenient stop while they’re working — and by the end of the year they’ll also be able to get Subway sandwiches there, as Saleen plans to open a new Subway outlet at the location. Sunnyview Gas Spot is located at 1050 Capitol Hills Parkway.
Board changes with resignation, election Continued from page 7
and did the same thing with the hospital information system electronic health records that’s all going to go with us (when the new hospital is built). “We did a lot of work on this building (current hospital) to bring it up to code as much as we can so that when we move into the new hospital that it will be an easier job to just do a few things in here to change the flow so that we can actually begin to re-outfit this for out-patient care,” he added.
Hall resigns During the months that the district was waiting for a decision on the lawsuit, there was another change in the makeup of the board. Dr. Susan Hall submitted her resignation from the Tehachapi Healthcare District Board of Directors at its May 16, 2012, meeting.
In presenting her resignation Dr. Hall said, “As you are aware, I have taken on significant duties as a physician on the medical staff of the hospital. As a result I am doing more acute patient care. Therefore I have decided to resign from the Board of Directors. “I am first, and foremost, a physician in this hospital and the community. I ran for the Board of Directors to help get the new hospital built. As soon as this CEQA situation is resolved I believe everything will move forward rapidly. We have a great construction team lined up who are professionals and will get the job done. Hall’s reference to the California Environmental Quality Act is related to litigation filed against the district by an organization called Tehachapi Area Critical Land Use Group.
The litigation challenges the adequacy of environmental review for the proposed construction of a new hospital. “Also, while serving on the board, some internal issues at the district came up,” Hall said. “There were some difficult decisions made, but I feel strongly the staff of the hospital we have now are the best to take us forward no matter what happens. “Do not be concerned that my decision was in any way influenced by those who have slandered and lied about this board,” she said. In August 2012 local accountant Duane Moats was appointed to fill the vacancy on the board left by Hall's resignation.
welcomes new hospital BY LINDA COSTELLOE-CLOUGH PRESIDENT, TEHACHAPI AREA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
As Realtors®, there are two areas in a community that are vital to the success of our industry. One is schools and the other is of course, Health Care. The impact of a new hospital for Tehachapi is one that will affect the real estate industry for many years to come. There are many people who have moved to Tehachapi to retire. Most of the time when they make that decision they are in good health and feel as though they can live forever. owever, as age begins to take its tool they have medical needs they may have never even considered. It s our understanding that the new hospital will offer more other needed services. These are the things that will benefit the retirees moving into Tehachapi, as well as retain our existing residents that will no longer need to relocate to be near specialized facilities and doctors. The addition of a maternity ward, when it can be opened, is also a plus. Many young people are coming of age where
incumbents Conklin and Steele facing a challenger — Henry L. Schaeffer. Schaefer had placed well, though he was unsuccessful, in the 2010 election and in early results it appeared that the incumbents had won again. But when all votes were counted and the election certified it was determined that Conklin and Schaeffer were elected — with Schaeffer garnering 135 votes more than longtime board member Steele.
2012 election
Current year
Just months after Twisselman's decision two seats on the board were up for regular election in November 2012, with
As 2013 began, the district board took further steps to prepare for hospital construction, including using eminent domain to take an
they can purchase homes. These families will be in need of labor and delivery. This is a service that has been absent from the area for many years. One of the first questions asked to us as Realtors is “Do you have a hospital?” Realtors hear comments quite often from people who need to sell their homes to be closer to doctors and hospitals, or who wish they could stay in town to have a baby. And last but not least, I really would like to have a nice hospital where I can take my children in case of an emergency. This new hospital will have a positive impact on residents of all ages and will be an asset to our community and a boost to the real estate industry. LINDA COSTELLOE-CLOUGH is President of the Tehachapi Area Association of Realtors.
easement across property owned by A.G. Touchstone, LLC, for the construction of a street to obtain access to the new hospital. Next was to give final approval of the transfer of 37-acre feet of water rights to the City of Tehachapi — a condition of receiving a building permit from the city. Both the easement and the water rights transfer were critical pieces of preparing the project for groundbreaking according to Project Manager Stacy Pray. And it began to award contracts, while still unsure about exactly where the remaining money to fund the hospital will be found.
The financial challenge Having gone to the voters twice, the district has been looking for other ways to finance the shortfall between available funding — the two bond issues and other money that has been raised or set aside for the hospital project — and the $87 million price tag. Burgess has said there have been offers of donations — and the district is looking for grants and loan possibilities. Meanwhile, construction is moving forward with an expectation that the hospital will be complete by fall of 2015.