Southern New Mexico Common Cause
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
· Meeting Location: J.W. Flours Restaurant, Las Cruces, NM 88001
· Members Attending:
Mary Ballard, Phil Banks, Gus Bigelow, John Bloom, Alex Burr, Steve Carter, Lynn Ellins, Rose Garcia, Ron Gurley, Woodie Jenkins, Delores Halls, Jim Kadlecek, John Lasaruk, Mike McCamley, Vicki Simons, Tamie Smith and Charles Welch
Members Not Attending:
Jane Asche and Vanessa Quiroz
Visitors
Steve Fischmann [Voted on the SNMCC Board during the meeting], Ms Jenkins, Commissioner Bill McCamley and Silvia Sierra, Director of DAC H&HS.
1. Call to Order: Lynn Ellins called the meeting to order at 11:45 AM.
2. Introductions and Agenda Approval/Changes:
Introductions were made or all knew each other.
The meeting Agenda was then approved by voice vote.
3. Approval of August Meeting Minutes:
The August meeting minutes were approved by voice vote.
4. Steve Fischmann was voted on the Board by voice vote.
5. Projects:
A. MMC Update Presentation by Silvia Sierra, Dona Ana County Director of H&HS, with
comments by Commissioner Bill McCamley. (See attached copies of charts)
· Commissioner Bill McCamley stated that a new Phone Number has been set-up at Dona Ana County (DAC) to answer citizen healthcare questions about where to go, compliments, and gather information for the Healthcare System that DAC is sponsoring. (1-877-827-7200 - The Dona Ana Countys number. Ask for the Health Care Help desk. Another number will be forthcoming in the future.) The information will be used to clarify how the citizens are being cared for and for the working together of all those involved with the Health Care of Dona Ana Countys citizens.
· Silvia Sierra added that the two handouts attached (to these minutes) show that the number of claims for assistance with healthcare bills and that the number of claims are going up due to many factors.
· More outreach and education is needed and will increase under the new healthcare system. [Ben Archer and La Clinica de Familia, etc.]. Credit ratings of the citizens who make healthcare claims are down because of the way hospitals (MMC) charge. The Las Cruces Public Schools is sponsoring a lunch program through the health program at Las Cruces high School. [Silvia Sierra]
· Commissioner Bill McCamley answered a question by saying that Political Will is missing among elected politicians and that the City of Las Cruces and DAC should get-together and create something constructive with the funds from the sale of the running of DACs Public Hospital (MMC) to a private firm (Lifepoint). There will be an annual citizens meeting at MMC on June 28th at 5:30 PM and many should attend.
· The general election will take place in November. The debate is now on concerning Voter Registration; the physical location of the Polling Places and the workers who man them. Also that the budget is the only thing that the DAC Commission can use to get at the County Clerk about elections since that position, as well as the DAC Treasurer, are elected.
· [See attached report on MMC Lifepoint = MMC Province-Lifepoint .Matters of Interest/Concern ]
B. City Council Tamie Smith
· She reported that the project to construct a new Federal Building went for $55 million to $80 million dollars.
· Tamie Smith asked where the proceeds of the sale of the Citys parking lot goes / went.
· The planned new City Hall is on five acres of land. The new Federal Building is on much lees land. (1+ acres)
C. NMSU Regents (Lynn Ellins and John Lasaruk)
· President Anya agreed to present the SNMCC issues with the Board of Regents. They had never been heard of by the Board of regents or brought up before them.
· We have been invited to attend the Board of Regents retreat for the purpose of bringing up our (SNMCC) issues.
D. Dona Ana County (Charles Welch)
· The last DAC meeting was in the new County Building.
· Jess Williams stated the State Audit was not on the DAC WEB Site. We should / will put the audit up on the SNMCC WEB site with the DAC attorneys response.
E. Las Cruces School Board - Phil Banks
The LCPS board has hired a new Superintendant as reported in the newspapers.
F. ETZ Commission and/or P&Z - Lynn Ellins
The ETZ Commission will not meet until next week. The reports on the P&Z Committee will continue.
6. New Business (Jim Kadlecek and Woodie Jenkins)
7. Other None
8. Old Business - None
9. Next Regular Meeting: July 19, 2006
10. Adjournment: Lynn Ellins adjourned the meeting at 1:28 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael McCamley
SNMCC Board Secretary
Date Approved and Signed