Beilenson Hearing Resumes Today

Sonora, CA — Tuolumne County District 1 Supervisor Liz Bass is hopeful a vote can be taken once the Tuesday afternoon hearing is completed.

That vote of the four supervisors could very well decide the fate of Tuolumne General Hospital. After more than six hours of public testimony last Tuesday, two supervisors, Dick Pland and Paolo Maffei, asked for a continuance so they could dissect the very controversial issue.

At issue is the possible closure of the acute care services offered by T.G.H. given that the hospital is swimming in a pool of red ink. T.G.H. will lose approximately $9 million this fiscal year and some $8 million the following fiscal year running from July 1 through June 30, 2007. The county´s general fund is the souce of those monies.

County Administrator C. Brent Wallace and his staff have recommended the acute care services be eliminated.

Members of the public have suggested the decision be put before a countywide vote while other have said no action should be taken until the Third District Supervisor´s currently vacant seat is filled.

Today´s 2PM hearing will be broadcast live on KVML and audio streamed on MyMotherLode.com. Just click here, and then click on the Supervisors Meeting link.

Written by Bill Johnson