Laird Hospital name will no longer be used
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

"This is not the first time Laird Memorial Hospital has experienced financial difficulty," Rob Schleier, city attorney told city council last night.

Schleier recounted financial hardships dating back to 1986 and said blame belongs almost exclusively on state and government regulations in regard to funding.

If LMH was just a little south of its hill-top location things would be different. According to Schleier, the hospital would then be called rural and entitled to approximately $2 million in federal funds.

In 2003 when LMH became embroiled in yet another financial crisis Community Hospital Corporation - in the business of saving hospitals - did just that, but has recently run out of money.

"The hospital would have closed two weeks ago had allegiance not agreed to pay February's payroll," Schleier said.

Other problems LMH has faced over the years are decreasing medicaid reimbursements, $700,000 a month in deficits, 70 percent of services being written off as bad debt and seven doctors retiring or leaving the community in five years.

"The people of Kilgore have not been supporting the hospital," Schleier said. "The funds from the trust certainly help, but not enough to keep the hospital open.

The end of Laird Memorial Hospital - at least as a traditional hospital - is here. To avoid further confusion, in the coming months the Roy H. Laird Memorial Hospital name will no longer be used, as the fa- cility is operated by Allegiance.

Council members faced an agenda that included a number of hospital-related issues last night.

Among those was approval of agreements which would lease parts of the facility to Longview Regional Hospital and to Diagnostic Clinic of Longview.

Diagnostic Clinic is charged with operation of an urgentcare clinic.

Longview Regional is expected to open an occupational medicine unit.

Yet another agreement leased hospital property to Allegiance Health Care.

Council also forgave a $774,328 loan from the city to the hospital. That loan began as a $563,106 loan in 2003 and was increased by another $211,222 in 2004.

According to Schleier this is not "real" money, but debt that was purchased.

"No money has changed hands," Schleier said.

After all the paperwork is cleared up, what was Laird Memorial Hospital will operate as a long-term critical care facility operated by Allegiance and as an outpatient clinic operated by Longview Regional and Diagnostic Clinic.

Under the new for-profit management the city will increase rent from $15,000 annually to $315,000.

Other hospital changes call for the expansion of the geriatric psychiatric unit from 18 beds to 40 beds and creation-retention of 250 jobs.

In other business last night: - Chris Dunsworth, president of C&J Real Estate Management, doing business as Platinum Homes of East Texas, made a presentation with the help of B.J. Owen, city director of community services.

Dunsworth asked for council participation in up-front costs associated with development of Remington Estates Phase III, behind Chandler Elementary and beside Maude Laird Middle School.

Kilgore Community Development Corporation has tentatively agreed to sell the land to Dunsworth for development. Council will make a decision at the next scheduled meeting.

- A public hearing was held for items previously approved by the Planning and Zoning Committee.

Jackie and Vickie Clayton, local business owners, have plans to build an On The Go convenience center with a fast-food restaurant, drive-through car wash, more fuel pumps and additional parking, at the intersection of North Street and Henderson Boulevard. On The Go is an Exxon Franchise.

The property that was once home to Rocky Ridge Apartments, adjacent to the couple's existing store, is zoned "local retail one." The committee approved rezoning to "local retail four" Wednesday, to allow construction of the new expanded and improved store.

Planning and zoning board members also agreed to a zoning change, subject to an agreement with Antonio Rodriguez, property owner, in which an area of Longview Street zoned for light manufacturing shall be granted special use permit zoning.

Rodriguez intends to build a community center for holding parties.

Later council action approved these items at the city level.

- Action items included amending city code to allow an exception by permit for placement of outdoor dining furniture in designated Main Street areas.

Fallon Burns, Main Street manager, said this is an excellent opportunity for food licensed merchants to expand services.

Each merchant may use no more than 50 percent of the sidewalk for tables and must remove the furniture when the business closes at the end of the day.

- Council also discussed financial assistance to Kilgore Soccer Association as well as road maintenance at Dogwood Estates outside of Kilgore off of Highway 31.

Council was not able to reach a decision on either request. Both will appear on a future agenda.

- Council identified funding resources for a new Emergency Medical Services facility, available through left-over monies in the General Fund.

Council also approved purchases for city water and sewer department and scheduled a community forum for South Street Park 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5.

Kilgore City Council meets again 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at Kilgore City Hall in Council Chambers.