Charity Invitational Gala continues fundraising efforts

The Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services raised approximately $550,000 of a $750,000 goal to upgrade and renovate the Dr. Philip Kamps Women’s Health and Birthing Center in September at its 23rd Annual Charity Invitational Golf Tournament. As part of the hospital’s annual fund-raiser, the “Paper Faces on Parade” Charity Invitational Gala Masquerade Ball was the second part of this year’s fund raising effort. It was held Oct. 19 in Gallup.

“Our fund raising efforts have been phenomenal,” RMCHCS CEO David Conejo said. “This will go a long way toward upgrading the Women’s Health Center by providing an enhanced level of birthing and overall care for the women of McKinley County. We thank the community for their generous support.” Conejo noted that the hospital often receives $100-200,000 during the holiday season, which he believes will help them reach their goal of $750,000 for the year.

The fun-filled gala attracted 350 masked and costumed participants who were entertained by master of ceremonies RMCHCS Marketing Director Rhonda Ray and radio show host and Gallup restaurateur Sammy Chioda. Western Health Foundation Executive Director Ina Burmeister led off the evening by describing the hospital’s fund raising efforts and an invocation was delivered by the Reverend Adrianne Coleman of the First United Methodist Church.

The crowd feasted on Prosecco and appetizers, southwestern hush puppies, jambalaya skewers, mini muffulettas and prime rib, or a vegetarian plate with dauphine potatoes calabacitas followed by a dessert of Tiramisu was offered as the entrée. The dinner was prepared by Chef Bob Witte and students from Navajo Technical University Culinary Arts Program and served by students from Miyamura High School.

Terry Fuhs nominated as 2019 Charity Invitational honoree

Before the dinner, Dr. Alan Beamsley, DO and Beatrice Nuñez, RN presented RMCHCS’s Terry L. Fuhs RN, MSN, CEN, CPEN, and Clinical Educator as the 2019 Charity Invitational Honoree.

“I am very honored to receive this outstanding award, particularly since I am the first nurse to receive it,” Fuhs said. “To work at such a great hospital with wonderful co-workers and being able to serve the great community of Gallup and beyond is also an honor.”

In 1978 Fuhs began her career with RMCHCS as an assistant nurse, eventually earning an LPN, RN, BSN, and MSN. Fuhs is a 41 year veteran of RMCHCS, having worked in various hospital departments while earning kudos and several awards, including RMCHCS Nurse of the Year, The Thomas Carmany Award, the 1994 NM Hospital Association Meritorious Awards for professional excellence and volunteer efforts. She has also been named RMCHCS Employee of the Month three times.

During the four-hour gala, the crowd danced to tunes spun by popular Gallup rodeo announcer and radio host Kyle Tom. Additional entertainment was provided by Patrick Moore and “The Off, Off Broadway Singers” who performed Music of the Night and stories for a Masquerade Ball from the Broadway hit Phantom of the Opera.

There were nine live and 25 silent auctions of unique jewelry, painting and sculptures by famous New Mexican artists held during the evening which included 25 area sponsors.

RMCHCS second major fundraiser For Women’s Health Center

This charity fundraising effort is the annual fundraiser by the hospital’s Western Health Foundation charity program.  Monies raised are part of a five-year plan that will begin with the renovation of the hospital’s Dr. Philip Kamps Women’s Health and Birthing Center. Specific additions will include seven labor and delivery beds, fetal monitors, and comfortable visitor chairs in addition to 18 computers and four infant warmers and resuscitation units.

Phase II of the Western Health Foundation’s fund raising efforts will focus on supporting the renovation and expansion of the College Clinic building in order to accommodate a brand new Family Medicine Residency Program. College Clinic construction will be used to expand the clinic space and provide for the growth of the Family Medicine Residency Program, including purchasing new equipment and furniture.

Phase III will be focused on ensuring that a sustainable Family Medicine Residency Program is in place and finalizing upgrades to the entire College Clinic facility.

By William Madaras
For the Sun

Local leaders unsatisfied with bill

SANTA FE  — The New Mexico Democrat-led House of Representatives rejected a bill that would have guaranteed paid time off for workers to cope with serious illnesses or care for newborns and loved ones on Feb. 14.

Eleven Democrats sided with Republicans, making the vote 34-36.

The failed proposal for paid leave would have eventually provided workers with up to 12 weeks of medical and family leave. The bill also included paid leave guarantee for workers who are victims of stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and abuse as they pursue a protection order, counseling, or flee their home.

Employers and employees would have both paid into the fund. Employees would have paid $5 for every $1,000 they earn; employers would have paid a matching $4 per $1,000. Federal employees working in the state would’ve been excluded. Only employers with more than five employees would have been required to pay into the fund, exempting about two-thirds of New Mexico businesses.

Rep. Patty Lundstrom voted against the bill. In an interview with the Sun, she explained that she thought it would end up costing employers too much money.

“The questions that I had, and the reason I didn’t vote for it, is because I don’t believe the fund, the way they had it designed, would remain solvent. When that happens it means you’re increasing the amount of money that the business would pay as well as what the employee would pay,” she said.

She also noted that the employees who took time off would have to be replaced.

“I think that’s very hard on employers. Because the thing is you have to find someone who’s going to replace that person who’s off. So you’re not only paying the person who’s off but then a a new person if you can find them to cover,” she said.

In a job that requires more technical and specific skills, such as a nursing home or hospital, that can be difficult to do.

At a Sept. 6 meeting of local businesses held by the Southwest Women’s Law Center, a group who heavily supported the bill, many Gallup small business owners voiced their concerns. Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce CEO Bill Lee attended the meeting.

“All of them talked about what a tremendous hardship this would put on the business and their employees and the costs they would have to incur to do this,” he said. “This bill would put another half a billion in payroll taxes into the state coffers because everybody would have to put into it whether or not they will use it.”

While it doesn’t say so, the bill would require employers to get new payroll software that supports the deductions, Lee said, and might force other process changes. He’s also concerned that the fund would run out of money within two years, potentially creating an unfunded mandate.

The bill was introduced last year, but a House committee stopped it in its tracks.

Lundstrom said one of her main problems with the bill was that it covered too many categories of beneficiaries. She hopes that the bill comes back next year, and that it’s more manageable.

“It just didn’t seem like [this bill] was ‘cooked enough’ I would say. I hope they go back this interim and work on it again. I hope they come back with another version, and it’s a more slimmed down version so we can build it in increments,” she said.

Staff Reports

Council approves proposal for nearly $600,000

After receiving multiple grants that helped increase funding, the City of Gallup is finally ready to take the next step on the road to building a new animal shelter.

During the city council meeting on Feb. 13, Planning and Development Director C.B. Strain reminded the council that the city received multiple grant agreements in the past three years, coming out to a total of about $811,000.

Strain noted that 1% of that total, which comes out to about $8,000, has to go to the Art in Public Places program, which commissions visual artists who work across all media to create site-specific installations and unique public art.

DESIGNING THE SHELTER

With that 1% still in mind, the city is now ready to start the design phase of the project. Strain asked the council to approve a professional service proposal from Huitt-Zollers, Inc. for schematic, design development, and construction documents for the shelter.

Huitt-Zollers, Inc. did not place a bid for the contract, the city already has a contract with them. The Albuquerque-based architect firm put a price tag of just under $600,000 for the design phase of the animal shelter.

Strain estimated that the phase would take about a year, and then the city would need to go the state legislators to seek out more funding for the construction.

Councilor Sarah Piano, Dist. 3, expressed her excitement for the project.

“We desperately need a new animal shelter. I know we need a lot of things, but I’m an animal lover and I’m constantly trying to get dogs and cats adopted,” she said.

While she is excited for the new shelter, Piano did acknowledge the negative feedback the city received when they initially evaluated how much a new shelter would cost.

“[…] I know we’ve run into some pushback about the cost of an animal shelter. … But this [design phase] should give us a more concrete idea of ‘well, this is what it will be like and this is why we need this much money,’” she said.

Strain said that when the city went to the state legislation with the original animal shelter plans, they were told it was too much money.

“We went and value engineered. We had several preliminary designs done by Huitt-Zollers, so we value engineered those down and got rid of redundant spaces, did some cutting and eliminating where we could.”

Strain was satisfied with the final product.

“I think we’re [in a good spot] where we could get a good building that is going to suit our needs and hopefully, we can afford it if we get money. We always have to go out for money,” he said.

PAY BY THE FOOT

When it comes to how much it’s actually going to cost to build the animal shelter, Strain wouldn’t give the council an exact number because of the fluctuating building material costs. He said he’s seen a large range of prices, from $500 a square foot to as much as $1,200 a square foot.

Mayor Louie Bonaguidi reminded the council that the new police building’s estimated cost was only $15 million three years ago, but now the price tag is sitting closer to $25 million.

Strain assured the council that everything the shelter needed would be included.

“What we try to do is fit the building to the site and allow for enough room for parking and everything else involved,” he said.

Once the design phase is complete, a review committee will voice their opinions on the shelter’s proposed design. Strain welcomed the council members to join the committee.

The shelter will be a regional shelter, so Councilor Michael Schaaf, Dist. 2, asked if the county or Navajo Nation would be pitching in.

Strain reminded the council that the county pays 40% of the city’s operational costs, but the Navajo Nation doesn’t contribute any amount of money to the shelter. He said the city is working to change that.

“We’ve approached the Navajo Nation to try and get some funding because a lot of those animals do come from across state lines and they just bring them into Gallup because Gallup is the hub,” Strain explained.

He said that they tried to approach the Navajo Nation about the issue, but when they met with some of the Nation’s officials, they suggested that some of the Gallup Animal Control officers pick up animals from Window Rock, Arizona.

“In reality [the Navajo Nation] is not really obligated [to help]. They’re in Arizona, we’re here in New Mexico,” Strain said. “The issue is they don’t have any place to take them on the reservation. The animal shelters they do have, they don’t operate very well, they don’t stay open.”

The council ultimately approved the resolution to accept Huitt-Zollers, Inc.’s proposal.

By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor

The City of Gallup is on the lookout for a new city manager.

During a closed session right before the Feb. 13 city council meeting, the council discussed how they should begin looking for a new city manager.

Former Gallup City Manager Maryann Ustick retired in June. Ever since then, her Assistant City Manager J.M. DeYoung has overseen the position as Interim City Manager.

Over six months later, the city is now trying to find someone from the Four Corners region to fill the permanent position. Councilor Sarah Piano, Dist. 3, explained why they weren’t planning on opening a nationwide search.

“We felt that it was best to advertise in the Four Corners region instead of opening [the search] up nationwide because we want applicants who are familiar with the culture and demographics of our area,” she said.

The council hopes to have the position filled within 90 days. They even posed the idea of hiring an outside firm to help locate qualified candidates.

Mayor Louis Bonaguidi noted that DeYoung could apply for the role if he wanted to, and Councilor Ron Molina, Dist. 4, encouraged him to do so.

“… J.M., thanks for everything. I hope you’re going to apply,” Molina said.

Staff Reports