Hospital Commission Chair Kent Turner presented audits done for 2021 through 2023 at the Jan. 22 Eureka Springs City Council meeting, saying that when he started on the commission, ESH had no accountants or a CFO, but now they do, and in accordance with by-laws, are now doing annual audits. Financial statements will be presented at each hospital meeting and also be available to the general public.
Eureka Springs Hospital has been losing roughly a quarter of a million dollars every month over 2021 and 2022 but made a profit in 2023 of $1,175,397 due to selling the rights to license for $3.6 million.
The hospital received $3,087,000 through CARES act during the COVID pandemic but the federal government has come back saying because the hospital is a city property, so the funds needed to be returned. ESH is contesting this because although all buildings except one are owned by the city, the hospital itself does not receive tax revenues as it is run by a commission, not the city.
Turner then discussed cash reserves, which are a little more than six million. The hospital was granted designation as a Rural Emergency Hospital by the state, which gave $2.4 million and will provide a further $2.4 million in the future.
The funds will allow ESH to make improvements and changes, such as putting in oxygen lines and expanding emergency rooms. The hospital will no longer have in-patient care and can only hold people for 24 hours.
ESH will receive $250,000 a month in funds from health department supplements and Medicaid and Medicare funds. The hospital has made agreements to transfer patients who need in-patient care to Mercy and Cox Hospitals in Springfield, Mo. Washington Regional currently has not made such an agreement as, according to Turner, it is more bureaucratic and needs to get board approval before making an agreement.
The hospital will be supplementing health in the community, and is looking to create cardiac, prenatal, and mental health clinics. They plan to upgrade the facilities to include Physical Therapy clinics, to supplement neurology and dermatology clinics. They intend to completely upgrade IT so they can communicate more effectively with other hospitals.
Turner noted that they do have the option of returning to having in-patient care but will have to do it through another non-profit or hospital, as ESH, with this new designation, can’t have those facilities on their own. He also mentioned that the Kansas University School of Architecture reached out to him about a class on remodeling hospitals and will submit remodel plans to ESH for free.
Alderman David Avanzino asked if there would be a clinic or department focused on LGBTQ health needs such as trans health, HIV control and mental health issues. Turner said that would be something to look into, but it is difficult to get mental health professionals in Northwest Arkansas, and most who do practice here are usually highly specialized.
Turner said he hopes to attract new practitioners to the area. Mayor Butch Berry added that every year for the past three years Eureka Springs has hosted doctors for two or three days at the Basin Park Hotel to show the benefits of living and working in a rural community, including Eureka Springs, Berryville, and the surrounding area, and it has had good reactions.
Commission openings
Berry noted that there are several vacancies on the Parks and Historic District Commission and urged citizens to apply. Two Cemetery positions were renewed and approved by the council.
Director of Public Works Simon Wiley was ill, so sewer and water leak issues were deferred to a later date.
Bags and fees
There was a second reading and approval of amendment of Ord. 2348 concerning Solid Waste Collection. Berry pointed out that city hall doesn’t have an ability to make change, so recommended changing the cost of overflow bag tags from $1.75 to $2. Wording of the ordinance was changed to be clearer about container types, and also that overflow bags that go over the 35-gallon container or bag limit must have the tag. Overflow bags without tags will be left uncollected. The changes were voted in, and the second reading approved.
Sidewalks
Alderman Steve Holifield asked about studies done other cities, and City Clerk Ida Meyer said the mayor had reached out to McClelland Engineering, and she also contacted West Memphis, Ark. One estimated a study of sidewalks being at least $40,000, and West Memphis had done a study on only sidewalks in front of their city building, which cost $75,000. That amount was only for consultation and evaluation fees, and determining which sidewalks could get an ADA exemption.
Alderman Autumn Slane brought up a constituent who suggested raising parking fees to two or three dollars to cover sidewalk construction or repair, and. Berry replied that that would be a separate issue.
Alderman Melissa Greene said that with the cost incurred by the sewer and water plant, the city couldn’t afford sidewalk repairs right now and suggested warning signs and areas with handrails. Greene also objected to raising parking fees as tourists already complain about one dollar parking fees. She noted that municipal law requires home and business owners to be responsible for sidewalks in front of their properties, and shouldn’t that be enforced?
Alderman Harry Meyer said Local Flavor and Amigos had both renovated their sidewalks, and asked if the building inspector could enforce house and business owners to make sidewalk improvements. Berry replied that the building inspector was making it a priority to make this part of any new construction or renovations.
Berry said that a list of high priority sidewalk areas was lost in the change over from the previous building inspector. Holifield was concerned that there have not been notable improvements in the sidewalks in the five years he’s served, and that this needed to be enforced. Berry disagreed and said improvements have been made, there is continuing work to make changes.
Resolution 853 Designation of the Mayor to execute certain documents in connection with funding administered by Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, needed to go through before council can proceed with the water and sewer plans.
Berry said that the Northwest Arkansas Development Company may be able to get a grant to cover 25 to 35 percent of the cost. There was also a motion to assign a Resolution 854 for providing and adopting the 2024 City Budget.
The next city council meeting will be Feb. 12.
I’m concerned about the lack of a transfer agreement with Washington Regional; I’ve had two medical emergencies that required long hospitalizations and rehab in Springfield, which put quite a strain on my husband. I would also think limited in-patient care would be beneficial, and I would have used the swing-bed program last August when I broke my leg if I’d known about it at the time. Sorry to see it go away.