Vaccines, staffing, Lazy Acres RV Park and elections discussed

SEELEY LAKE – At their Feb. 9 meeting, the Seeley-Swan Hospital District Board received updates regarding vaccinations, Karen Ayers’ resignation at the Seeley-Swan Medical Center, Lazy Acres RV Park Subdivision and the sewer bond election.

Partnership Health Center representative Abby Berow reported that 204 PHC patients were vaccinated Feb. 8 at the drive-thru Vaccination Clinic at Seeley-Swan High School. Everyone who received their first dose will return Feb. 28 to receive their second dose.

Berow said PHC was responsible for scheduling the patients to receive the vaccinations. While she acknowledged that it was a “heavy lift” to organize in less than a week, she was thankful for Missoula County and the Incident Command Vaccination Team for taking care of the planning, logistics and coordination for the first mass drive-through vaccination clinic in Missoula County.

She added that PHC realizes there are a lot more people in Seeley Lake that need to receive the vaccination, including those that are not established PHC patients. They will continue to seek opportunities to serve the community as the vaccines become available.

The board commented that they appreciated PHC’s focus on Seeley Lake and all the work that went into making the vaccination event run so smoothly.

Seeley-Swan Medical Center Site Coordinator and Registered Nurse Karen Ayers announced that she and her family will be moving to Big Fork, Montana this spring. Her last day at the clinic will be April 8.

“It’s been a real pleasure working with all of you,” said Ayers.

“Your fingerprints are all over that clinic and I’m so thankful for all the work that you have done over the years. They are very, very big shoes to fill and I’m not sure we will ever be successful at finding another Karen. PHC wishes you all the best and thank you for all your years of service, not only to us but to the Seeley Lake community as a whole,” said Berow.

The Board agreed.

“I think everybody feels like this is a pretty big loss to our clinic, but we do certainly appreciate all the work and time you have put in,” said Board Chair Twyla Johnson. “[Abby is] right, it will be hard shoes to fill but we wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Thank you for all the years of work that you did there. We appreciate it so much.”

Ayers said that the Seeley-Swan Medical Center staff met with Darin Bell, MD regarding the residency program. She said the staff overall is receptive to the program and they feel they can work through the concerns, many of which were brought up at last month’s board meeting. They hope to start blocking out the schedule for residents in March and April.

Johnson said the application for Lazy Acres RV Park & Subdivision was submitted for the Governing Body Review Jan. 12. The attorney has been instructed to review the application to pull out key points that the Board may wish to address when the 30-day public comment period opens.

Johnson told the Board that Sewer District Manager Jean Curtiss contacted her and let her know that the Hospital District doesn’t pay the “right taxes” in the District to be considered a voter for the sewer bond election. However, Curtiss recommended the District submit their ballot anyway because Johnson said, “She wasn’t 100% sure that they would reject it.” Johnson submitted their ballot.

Johnson added the Foundation is eligible to vote in the sewer bond election and they have submitted their ballot. “Their vote will count,” Johnson said.

Clerk Marty Kux informed the Board that current board members Terryl Bartlett and Bruce Richardson were the only two applicants for the two open Board positions. Unless a write-in candidate applies by March 1, their will be no election for the Hospital District May 4.

The next meeting will be 5 p.m., March 9 via conference call. To participate, call 1-346-248-7799. The meeting ID is 953 2960 8482. If a password or participation ID is requested, press #.