Closed session results in no action, discussion

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County Hospital District directors spent much of a three and a half hour meeting on Monday, April 22 in closed session to discuss three different personnel concerns, but no details were given or actions taken when the board opened the meeting to the public.

LUCAS Purchase

During the district portion of the meeting, a motion passed unanimously to purchase a second chest compression unit known as a “LUCAS” for the backup ambulance at a cost of approximately $26,000.

EMS director Tina Ulbrich had recommended the purchase at last month’s regular session, but the item was tabled until she could ask questions about financing and find out about possible grants.

Ulbrich said Monday that Stryker, the company that manufactures the LUCAS unit, would not allow the district to “pay out” the purchase over three months but would give SCHD a “three-month extension.

After discussing the options, a motion passed to purchase the LUCAS outright.

Fund Transfers

Several transfers from the main operating account were approved during the evening, including $60,000 to the Sanders Drug Store account, which according to directors, should pay the pharmacy’s expenses through July.

There was also action to move $40,000 to the operating account of the Shackelford County Health Clinic, along with small amounts to three different credit card accounts.

PT Contract

The directors reviewed the current contract with Albany Physical Therapy for rental of the east end of the clinic building, but decided to leave the rent and other  stipulations as they exist in the original document.

In addition, SCHD staff members were told that they should not park in the area reserved for PT customers, and that they should not use the inside space reserved for the physical therapy company.

Other Business

•A motion was approved to pay Stetson Hobbs as a paramedic rather than an EMT basic, retroactive to Feb. 1 when he received his certification.

•District administrator Jera Fairley reported that an American Airlines ticket purchased last year for an employee to attend a conference that was subsequently cancelled can be transferred but must be used by the end of this year.