MONTESANO — On a 2 to 1 vote, the county commissioners on Thursday approved the boundaries of Grays Harbor Community Hospital’s proposed hospital district to head to the voters as originally presented — stretching from west of Elma out to the beaches.
The decision came about following four public hearings, where dozens of people weighed in on the issue. There had been a specific push to remove North Beach from the proposal because of the potential tax burden property owners could face and to remove the Montesano area from the proposal because of a desire to annex into the existing hospital district at Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma.
County Commissioner Wes Cormier had argued that the district should start off small with a district just in the city limits of Aberdeen, Cosmopolis and Hoquiam. For discussion purposes, Commissioner Herb Welch seconded the motion.
Commissioner Frank Gordon spoke against that proposal, noting that if someone in Ocean Shores has an emergency, they’ll end up going to Community Hospital to get help.
“We are giving the people of Ocean Shores a form of welfare,” Gordon said. “… We should all share the pain — and help pay the bill.”
“I understand that Community Hospital provides a service, but so does Harborview Medical Center,” Cormier said, noting that Harborview hasn’t requested to create a statewide hospital district to make everyone pay into it.
Cormier said that he’s had all three of his children born at Grays Harbor Community Hospital — and he paid with it using his insurance. Others pay for their insurance out of pocket. Even people from Elma use Community Hospital, even though hey have their own public hospital district.
“I wouldn’t call those people freeloaders,” Cormier said.
Cormier’s proposal was shot down on a 2-1 vote with only Cormier voting in favor of it.
Gordon and Welch then approved the hospital boundaries as they were originally drawn with Cormier voting against it.
The hospital district will go to the ballot with five distinct districts — and each district will be represented by one hospital commissioner. There will also be two at-large positions for a total of seven hospital commissioners on the ballot.
The commissioners unanimously approved the idea of five distinct districts within the boundaries of the hospital district. But the idea of adding at-large positions was approved on a 2-1 vote. Cormier said he thought the at-large positions would give the Aberdeen area a greater voice since there were more voters present. He voted against it.
Commissioners Gordon and Welch said the at-large positions would allow greater flexibility in finding people to serve on the board, including a board member or two who may have medical knowledge.
Auditor Vern Spatz says he’s finishing off the boundaries for the district. The filing period for those interested in running will be a three-day period from May 14 to May 16 at the end of the typical filing period for the offices. Spatz said he’ll distribute the maps for the potential districts as soon as possible so those interested in running will know their districts.
To represent a specific district and run for public office there, residents must live there. Residents could live anywhere in the boundaries for the at-large seats.
The draft documents show the following: District 1 includes Montesano, Brady, Satsop and much of Central Park. District 2 includes South Aberdeen and the South Beach area. District 3 includes North Beach, Taholah and Lake Quinault. District 4 includes Hoquiam and the Wishkah Valley. District 5 includes the rest of Aberdeen.
Spatz said the district boundaries may change over the next few days. There were questions on if Aberdeen might be able to fit in just one district.
Commissioner Welch called on residents to “pay close attention” to who runs for hospital commissioner and make sure it’s someone who represents a voter’s particular values.
“Ask them the hard questions,” Welch said.
On the August ballot, voters will get to decide on whether the hospital district should exist and, at the same time, who they would want as their hospital district commissioners.
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