BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
May 6, 1954
The meeting was called to Order at 8:10 P.M. by the President, Dennis Bernstein.
Members present were: Dennis Bernstein, President
W.B. Steen, President-Elect
Leo J. Kent, Vice-President
W.T. Hileman, Secretary-Treasurer
Edward M. Hayden Clarence H. Kuhlman
Royal W. Rudolph Max Costin
Harry E. Thompson Francis J. Bean
David E. Engel Miguel A. Carreras
Lindsay E. Beaton George Fraser
It was moved by Dr. George Fraser, seconded by Dr. L.E. Beaton, to dispense with reading of the Minutes. Motion carried.
Report for the Hospital Building Committee was made by Dr. Harry E. Thompson, chairman, as follows:
"We are faced with the problem of no agreement in the committee on what should be done. I reported three or our months ago, I believe, that the Supervisors will not float a bond issue, that any bond issue that is to be brought up will have to brought up by initiative petition, and will require the signatures of 10% of those who voted for the Governor at the last election, or 5,400 signatures. The committee then voted to meet in the spring and discuss this again. I think everyone here knows that we were asked to keep this quiet because Phelps Dodge Corporation pays one-third of the taxes in the County, and that if this issue were brought up to the public we would immediately get opposition from the biggest tax payer.
The Hospital Building Committee went over some of these factors tonight, and found that, based on a $5,000,000 dollar twenty year bond issue the rate would run 25 per hundred the first year, and range down to 6 per hundred in the last year. The committee, tonight, felt that since our census has been down at the County Hospital, and while they agreed that we still need a County Hospital, it was their desire to have a special meeting to present this to the members. If this petition is started, it had to be filed by the first of September. The Committee recommends that the County Society hold a special meeting sometime this month, the topic to be "A New County Hospital". Factors to be taken into consideration were that the Committee felt that a County-Community Hospital would be good, and yet is disturbed about Tucson Medical Center, and I think possibly they are right--they cannot commit themselves to any community hospital at this time, as they are still being paid on former promises.
The recommendation of the Hospital Building Committee is that a special meeting be held to consider this County Hospital and the feasibility of starting a campaign during the summer months and issue a petition to be followed by a request for a bond issue at the general election in November, and I so move."
Motion seconded by Dr. D. E. Engle.
Discussion:
Dr. Costin--Would the total amount of cost have to come from the bond issue?
Dr. Thompson--With the expansion factor for 300 beds, double laboratory, x-ray, offices, kitchens, etc., it amounts to about $4,000,000.00.
Dr. Royal Rudolph--Does the committee have a request in for any Hill-Burton money?
Dr. Thompson--The request is in, but they have no money. We have visited with them several times.
