Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, March 05, 2015

Page 1

HILSTAD BENEFIT

STATE BASKETBALL

Benefit Dinner/Auction Saturday, March 7 at the Oroville Eagles

See Sports Pages A10-11

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OKANOGAN VALLEY

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Supt. Steve Quick’s contract not renewed... so far

THIS IS JUST A DRILL

BY GARY A. DE VON MANAGING EDITOR

OROVILLE – After an evaluation that lasted through several executive sessions, including at extended school board meetings, Oroville School Superintendent Steve Quick still hasn’t had his contract renewed. The board first went into executive, closed-door session, at their Monday, Feb. 23 meeting. After conferring on the matter they decided to continue the meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26 and again on Monday, March 2. At the March 2 meeting Rocky DeVon, chairman of the school board, stuck his head out of Quick’s office at least five times to announce they needed more time. After about two hours the board reconvened. DeVon called for a motion on approval or disapproval of the contract - board member Amy Wise moved that the matter be tabled until June. The motion received a second and passed, with Wise and board member Travis Loudon approving and board members Todd Hill and Michael

Tonasket School District, law enforcement, emergency responders and North Valley Hospital, participated in an accident drill, emphasizing the dangers of drinking and driving. The staged accident took place last Tuesday morning in the school district parking lot and featured student volunteers serving as accident victims. EMTs gave first aid to the wounded at the scene and readied them for transportation to the hospital. See next week’s issue of the G-T for the full story.

Egerton abstaining. The chairman cast the deciding vote and the matter will be tabled until the June meeting. Supt. Quick has been on a three year contract – at one point when a past board discussed only approving his contract on a yearly basis, the administrator said he would like to be released to look for another job. At the regular meeting of the board they swore in Dakota Haney as the newest student representative to the board. “Student representatives don’t get to vote on the actual agenda items, but get to give their input,” said Quick. Director Egerton, who also serves as chairman of the Okanogan County Fair Board, gave a report on last year’s fair. He also discussed how the fair board is trying to encourage more school participation from all the school districts in the county. Tori Kindred, a freshmen at Oroville High School, gave a presentation on the recent FBLA conference held in

SEE SCHOOL | PG A3

County Infrastructure Fund may release money again BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

TONASKET - City Planner Kurt Danison announced at the Tonasket City Council meeting Feb. 24 that Okanogan County Commissioners may be ready to release money from the County Infrastructure Fund this year. Seven agencies county-wide have applied for grants from the fund. The Infrastructure Fund takes in money each year through a .09 retail tax rebate set up in 2001 by the state to help economically distressed counties. “When the legislature passed this, they were pretty specific about the money being spent on public facilities necessary for economic development,” Danison said, adding that about 10 years ago it was decided 40 percent of the funds would go for the county to spend on whatever it wanted, the cities would all compete for 40 percent, and the remaining 20 percent would go to emerging opportunities. Danison said the retail tax fund now generates about $500,000 annually, with $100,000 going to the Economic Alliance every year.

Brent Baker/ submitted photos

“There’s always money going out of the fund, but it’s been awhile since any money has been allocated to specific projects,” Danison said. Money going out each month includes a bond payment on three million dollars the county borrowed to build sidewalks, restrooms and post signs around the county. Another payment being made each month is on a loan the county took out to build the sewer out to Veranda Beach. “The initial idea was that as people connected to the sewer would generate revenue to pay the loan back,” Danison said, “but the city is not enforcing properties to connect. Over time the county will get some policies in place and have revenue coming in from the sewer, but for now the loans are paid out of the county infrastructure fund.” Additionally, money goes out of the fund each month to support the Economic Alliance. According to Danison, the agency has been in place for 35 or 40 years, but has always struggled to survive, taking in a small amount of money from the state and some

SEE FUND | PG A2

NV Hospital has $1 million in bank Hospital Administrator Linda Michel placed on paid leave BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

TONASKET - North Valley Hospital Administrator Linda Michel has been put on paid administrative leave through April 3, 2015. Her last day with the hospital was Thursday, Feb. 26. Michel, whose salary is $176,966 per year, planned to retire in October 2015, before moving that date up to April 3, 2015. Neither Helen Linda Michel Casey, chairwoman of the board of commissioners nor Chief Financial Officer

Helen Verhasselt had any comment as to was important to bring in an outside why Michel was placed on administra- resource as interim until a permanent tive leave. administrator has been selected.” Jim O’Halloran, Meanwhile, retired CEO of Ferry Verhasselt will be the County Hospital, will acting administraserve as the interim “Having someone cme tor. The search for a Administrator startnew administrator is in to lead us through ing April 1 and lastbeing carried out by the way will be the ing until the position a Long Range Focus is filled. O’Halloran Committee made best thing for the will receive a monthly up of board memdistrict. He is highly fixed salary of $10,250, bers Clarice Nelson working on a month qualified and has great and Teresa Hughes; by month contract. Human Resources experience in leader- Director Jan Gonzales; “Having someone come in to lead ship and healthcare.” Verhasselt; Director of us through the way Business Development Helen Casey Chairwoman will be the best thing Terri Orford; Long North Valley Hospital Board for the district,” said Term Care Director Casey. “He is highly Linda Holden; and qualified, and has great community members experience in leadership and healthcare. Don Atchison, Steve Quick, Montie The Board felt that to continue forward Smith and Karen Schimpf. Twenty-nine progress, considering that the Senior applications have been received so far. Leaders have a lot of responsibilities, it The committee will meet March 26

OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 09

to discuss the applications, with Skype interviews set for March 30 and 31. Three to five applicants will be selected and brought to the hospital campus the week of April 20th for a “meet and greet” and interviews with the Board of Commissioners, followed by final interviews with the Long Range Focus Committee. The advertised position calls for five to ten years of experience in healthcare administration. The new administrator’s salary is to be determined based on experience. “With naming Jim O’Halloran as our Interim, we will be able to take our time finding a versatile candidate that meets all the qualifications that the community, Medical Staff and Board have established,” said Casey. Director Nelson reported at the Feb. 26 board meeting an interview matrix was complete and available for committee members to review.

FINANCES LOOKING UP Cash on hand for the hospital was

SEE NVH | PG A2

INSIDE THIS EDITION

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$807,067 as of Feb. 26. On March 2, Orford reported the hospital having $1 million in the bank. “We have paid off our warrants, and now have $1 million in cash reserves,” Orford stated. “We will be handing out root beer floats tomorrow to our staff and community thanking them for being a part of our success.” Jana Symonds, Director of Patient Financial Services, reported reaching an average daily revenue of $90,165 in the most recent 90-day period. “This is a happy day for me,” said Symonds. “Our departments are doing a good job.” Holden presented survey results from Medicare.gov comparing nursing homes within a 200 mile radius of Tonasket. Of the six nursing homes compared, NVH was the only facility to rate with five of five stars under headings of: Overall, Health Inspections, and Quality Measures. NVH received four of five

Valley Life Cops & Courts Letters/Opinion

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Community A6-7 Classifieds/Legals A8-9 Real Estate A9

Sports Outdoors Obituaries

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