October Summary of Estes Park Public Meetings
By Rebecca Urquhart for Observers of the League of Women Voters of Estes Park
Estes Park Health District Special Meeting 10/22/24
Members present: Stephen Alper, David Batey, Brigitte Foust, Drew Webb, Cory Workman
UCHealth voted to approve a letter of intent (LOI) for Estes Park Health to join UCHealth in 2025. If the proposal is adopted, local health clients will be able to use all of the hospitals and clinics of UC Health, the State’s largest Medicaid provider.
Estes Valley Voice local news service claims the failure to release the copy of the LOI is a violation of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA).
Discussions were held in executive session and another executive session took place at a subsequent meeting of the board on Oct. 22, 2024.
During the normally scheduled public Board meeting on Oct. 23, a summary of the Letter of Intent was offered to the public. These are significant points:
- UCH will operate the medical center, leasing it from the Park Hospital District.
- The Park Hospital District will continue to exist, levy taxes and elect Board members.
- Assuming position qualifications are met, employees will be offered employment as UCH employees at the same or better compensation.
- The Ambulance/EMS service is anticipated to continue.
- The hospital's status for Critical Access hospital will continue.
- The ability to augment behavioral health services, telehealth, OP urology and surgery will all be evaluated.
Next steps include further negotiation. Because some agreements have not been settled, the LOI is considered non-binding as yet. Working out specifics is anticipated to take 3-5 months, followed by the review and hearings by the State Attorney General. The official Closing of the deal is up to 9 months in the future.
Public comments from some participants in-person and online raised concern about the hospital Administration and Board conducting the business of a public entity behind closed doors, without minutes or records available to the public. Some community members said they are experiencing a “loss of trust” in the hospital. Also, recently, members of the press requested access to the 2025 Budget and were allowed to view only a one-page summary.
Link to EPH Board Files, Notes, Minutes Video of Public Meetings
EP Town Board of Trustees 10/22/24
Members present: Gary Hall (Mayor), Marie Cenac (Mayor Pro Tem),
Mark Igel, Cindy Younglund, Kirby Hazelton, Bill Brown, Frank Lancaster
Minutes approved for the last regular meeting on Oct. 8 show that the Board accepted the audited financial statements for 2023. The auditor reported a “clean” opinion. Board then appointed the same Auditor for the 2024 financial year.
The $91 million budget for 2025 is scheduled for approval on Nov.12. Public comments were concerned about
- cuts to the Estes Park Art District,
- preserving the budget for the Chamber of Commerce’s workforce development activities, and
- funding for the nonprofit organizations from sales tax.
A rezoning ordinance to allow taller and dense mixed use projects in every zone except residential was discussed and postponed for further public input. Staff asserted that the new Comprehensive Plan approved it, but discussions revealed that the code change would allow such uses in all areas, not just those targeted on the development map. Public comments asserted that the code change would significantly change the character of the Town and emphasized the detrimental effect of the increase in building heights.