On the LAKE Front

Hospital Authority unaudited finances

If the hospital authority had a web site, I suppose this is the type of information that could be provided to the public so that they could know about the operations and financial health of the institution.

-gretchen

On South Georgia Medical Center letterhead 8 May 2012, CERTIFICATE OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Greg S. Hembree, the Chief Financial Officer of the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County, Georgia D/B/A South Georgia Medical Center, have reviewed the attached unaudited balance sheet, unaudited statement of revenues and expenses, and unaudited statement of cash flows for the six month period ending March 31, 2012, and to the best of my knowledge the statements present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Authority.

SGMC Hospital Bonds go for sale this week

The bonds the Lowndes County Commission is guaranteeing for South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) are up for public auction this week.

According to the NYTimes yesterday, Treasury Auctions Set for This Week

The following tax-exempt fixed-income issues are scheduled for pricing this week:

...

ONE DAY DURING THE WEEK

...

Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County, Ga., $148.5 million of revenue anticipation certificates. Morgan Keegan

-gretchen

Double Lowndes County Commission tonight: Work 4:30 PM Regular 5:30 PM

Alcohol, rezoning, hospital, debt, and an election! Because Tuesday is Election Day, the Lowndes County Commission changed its regular meeting to Monday. Work sessions are usually Monday in the morning; today the Work Session is at 4:30 PM, just before the Regular Session at 5:30 PM. It's a busy agenda, including two alcohol licenses, two rezonings, and an appointment to the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County (VLCHA); that's the body that authorized South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) buying Smith Northview Hospital, after which SGMC got the County Commission to have we the taxpayers guarantee $100 million in bonds for expansion. Hm, and "SGMC Revenue Certificates" is on this agenda, too.

Here's the agenda:

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011, 4:30 p.m.
REGULAR SESSION, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2^nd Floor

SGMC, Comprehensive Plan, and 4-H at County Commission, 10-11 October 2011

The previous Lowndes County Commission meetings of two weeks ago featured in the work session:

6. Resolution - SGMC Revenue Certificates

Here's a playlist for the work session of 10 October 2011.

And in the regular session:

7.b. Greater Lowndes 2030 Comprehensive Plan Updates – Lowndes County Report of Accomplishments (ROA) and Short Term Work Program (STWP)

Oh, yes, and this seemingly innocuous PR item:

4. 4-H Presentation

Here's a playlist for the regular session of 11 October 2011. More posts to follow on these items.

Here's the agenda.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2^nd Floor

1. Call to Order
2. Invocation
3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
4. 4-H Presentation
5. Minutes for Approval
   1. Work Session — September 26, 2011
   2. Regular Session — September 27, 2011
6. Resolution - SGMC Revenue Certificates
7. Public Hearing
   1. REZ-2011-13, Fred's Dept. Store, 4401 Bemiss Rd., 145c-90a, 2.0 ac., water/sewer, C-H(c) & C- G(c) to C-G
   2. Greater Lowndes 2030 Comprehensive Plan Updates — Lowndes County Report of Accomplishments (ROA) and Short Term Work Program (STWP)
8. For Consideration
   1. Lowndes County Jail Administration HVAC — Change Order
   2. Section 5311 Rural Transportation Program Capital Contract
   3. Fluke Network OptiView XG
9. Reports-County Manager
10. Citizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address

SGMC absorbs Smith Northview Hospital

What could that $55 million or that $100 million have been used for that would have improved medical care around here?

Kay Harris wrote for the VDT yesterday, SGMC acquisition of Smith Northview official:

Beginning today, Smith Northview is an official campus of South Georgia Medical Center.

Officials from the Hospital Authority of Valdosta-Lowndes County and Ameris Health Systems gathered Wednesday at SGMC to sign the paperwork together to finalize the sale.

SGMC purchased Smith Northview for $55 million, with no assumption of debt. Hospital Authority Attorney Walter H. New said the purchase was financed through an 18-month bridge loan, which is anticipated to be paid in full in December when SGMC is expected to have a $100 million bond issue to pay for current and future projects on the main hospital campus.

Interim CEO for Smith Northview, Shamb Purohit, said, “This is a wonderful moment and we need to celebrate it.”

Yeah, well, he's paid to say that. I say it's a sad day. First Smith Hospital moved from Hahira

Hospital Authority

Who approved the $40 million purchase of Smith Northview Hospital by South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC)? The Valdosta-Lowndes County Hospital Authority. Who is that?

Let's look on their web pages. We would, if they had any. Let's try the Valdosta city web pages: the link to Hospital Authority gets 404 not found. How about the Lowndes County web pages? Don't be silly! The Lowndes County government doesn't provide links to any of the 20+ boards and authorities to which it appoints members.

So where can we find a list of who's on this board? Why, SGMC: