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Brookings Health system
Board of Trustees
October 18, 2011
Board of Trustee Members:
Rob Jones, Chair, Al Baker, Vice-Chair, Zeno W. Wicks, III, Secretary (left at 6:56 p.m.), Jim
Booher, Arne Brown, Sandra Faltemier, Debra Johnston, Teresa McKnight (arrived at 6:11
p.m.), Julie Whaley (left at 8:20 p.m.), ex-officios: John Kubal and Mike McClemans
Guests:
Tim Reed, Mayor, Al Heuton, BEDC, Mike Bartley, BEDC, Jeff Weldon, City Manager, Kevin
Coffey, Interim CEO, Dan Little, audience, and Deb Davis, recorder.
Jones called the special Hospital Board of Trustee Meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. He noted
Mayor Reed was present to talk about the VA Nursing Home and then there would be an
executive session.
Invited Guest
Tim Reed, came before the BHS Board of Trustees to ask if the members would be in support of
a VA Nursing Home. Reed summarized the history of the veterans administration nursing home
noting in the Spring of 2010 Brookings Health System submitted and presented the request for
proposal (RFP) to build a 50 bed VA Nursing Home. Shortly thereafter, the government put
their plans on hold. Recently a new RFP has been released; however, the parameters have
changed from what was originally proposed. He indicated the contract has two parts to it;
building the veterans nursing home and then operating the facility. Reed has met with city
councilors, BEDC and legislatures and feels the VA Nursing Home would be a good thing for
the community. The Board members expressed their concerns that the costs of adding an
additional 50 beds to the existing plans in progress would be too great of a drain on the financial
stability of the healthcare system and placing an additional 50 beds on the proposed footprint for
the new 79 bed skilled nursing facility would require the 50 bed unit to be a two-story structure,
which is not an optimal solution. Reed indicated by having the 50 beds located in close
proximity to the 79 bed structure it would allow for sharing of auxiliary services. Coffey noted
to add the additional 50 beds at a later date would be difficult since the heating and air will be
based on 79 beds with the potential to grow to 25 additional beds. Concern was expressed about
the reimbursement rates. Reed felt funding for veterans would probably be around much longer
than other conventional funding.
Reed, Heuton, Bartley and Weldon were excused at 7:10 p.m.
The Board continued to discuss the Mayor’s request. McKnight felt BHS needs to focus on the
current strategic plan and the entire community needs to come together to pursue this venture. A
motion made by McKnight, and was seconded by Whaley, the Brookings Health System Board
of Trustees is behind a community driven project to pursue a veteran’s administration nursing
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home and Brookings Health System stands ready to be part of that community. All voted in
favor of the motion. Motion carried
Executive Session
A motion by McKnight/Johnston to move into Executive Session at 7:50 p.m. citing SDCL 1-25-2(4),
Contractual Matters. Those present: Al Baker, Jim Booher, Arne Brown, Sandra Faltemier, Debra
Johnston, Rob Jones, Teresa McKnight, John Kubal, Mike McClemans, Kevin Coffey and Deb Davis.
Executive session ended at 8:46 p.m.
A motion by Faltemier/Brown to move into second Executive Session at 8:49 p.m. citing SDCL 1-25-
2(1), Personnel Matters. Those present: Al Baker, Jim Booher, Arne Brown, Sandra Faltemier, Debra
Johnston, Rob Jones and Teresa McKnight. Executive session ended at 9:10 p.m. A motion by
Booher/Faltemier to accept the recommendation by Baker to accept the new base salary of $200,000) and
revised incentive.
Meeting concluded at 9:10 p.m. (Brown/Whaley).
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________________
Al Baker, Vice Chair