1
CAPTIONING
JUNE 4, 2014
BOCC REGULAR MEETING
MORNING SESSION
***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.
>MARK SHARPE: GOOD MORNING.
IT'S JUNE 4th, AND THIS IS A MEETING OF YOUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSION, AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH A PLEDGE AND PRAYER BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
PLEASE RISE.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>LES MILLER, JR.: OUR GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU ALLOWED US TO SEE ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAYS, A DAY THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND A DAY THAT WE'LL NEVER SEE AGAIN, BUT FOR BEING HERE, WE'RE SO VERY, VERY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US AS WE MEET TODAY TO MAKE THIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
REGULATE OUR MINDS AND HUMBLE OUR HEARTS AS WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
WHETHER WE'RE ON THIS DAIS OR OUT IN THE AUDIENCE, BE WITH US, FATHER.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU PROTECT THOSE THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US EACH AND EVERY DAY, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THIS SOIL OR ON FOREIGN SOILS.
GUIDE THEM, COMFORT THEM, AND KEEP THEM, AND FATHER, TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALSO INVOLVED IN THIS WHOLE SITUATION, WHEREVER THEIR FAMILIES MAY BE.
AND, FATHER, WE ASK THAT WHEN WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, YOU TAKE US BACK TO OUR HOMES TO FIND EVERYTHING SAFE AND SOUND.
THESE AND ALL BLESSINGS WE ASK IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
> AMEN.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRAYER, COMMISSIONER MILLER.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR PROCLAMATIONS WITH A PROCLAMATION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>LES MILLER, JR.: OKAY.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE FOLLOWING PARALEGALS FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IF THEY'RE IN ATTENDANCE, TO PLEASE COME UP: DONNA BROWN, RANEE CORNELIUS, DAWN JACKSON, CHERYL LONERGAN, LESLIE MATTHEWS, DAVE McNABB, NANCY MILAM, AND MELISSA WREN.
THEY'RE ALL HERE.
I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER PARALEGALS THAT ARE HERE FROM OTHER FIRMS FROM THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
WHY DON'T YOU STAND, PLEASE.
OKAY.
EACH YEAR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZES PARALEGALS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR THE OUTSTANDING SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THE LEGAL COMMUNITY.
PARALEGALS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED AND EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK UNDER THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF A MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR.
THROUGH THEIR FORMAL EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND WORK EXPERIENCE, PARALEGALS HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE REGARDING THE LEGAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS SUBSTANTIVE PROCEDURAL LAW.
PARALEGALS ARE HELD TO A HIGH STANDARD OF ETHICS, THE SAME AS THOSE FOR WHICH ATTORNEYS ARE HELD, IN ADDITION TO STANDARDS SET FORTH BY THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS, AND THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGALS ASSOCIATIONS.
PARALEGALS ARE EMPLOYED BY LAW FIRMS, PRIVATE ATTORNEYS, CORPORATE LEGAL DEPARTMENTS, INSURANCE COMPANIES, REAL ESTATE AND TITLE FIRMS, BANKS, AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING OUR OWN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND I KNOW -- I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, I JUST PLAY ONE ON TV -- THAT ANYONE THAT PUTS THE TIME IN TO GET THE EXPERTISE TO ASSIST ATTORNEYS IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK FOR, AND IN MANY INSTANCES, ATTORNEYS WOULD BE LOST IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM, RIGHT, CHIP?
>CHIP FLETCHER: ABSOLUTELY.
>LES MILLER, JR.: I UNDERSTAND.
SO TODAY WE RECOGNIZE PARALEGALS AND THE FINE WORK THAT THEY DO.
I'M GOING TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO COME UP, JUST -- I KNOW YOU'RE NOT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT YOU-ALL JUST COME ON UP.
YOU'RE BEING RECOGNIZED ALSO HERE.
AND TODAY WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION WHICH READS, WHEREAS, THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS A DEMANDING, CHALLENGING, AND COMPLEX ENDEAVOR BY WHICH THE RIGHTS, LIABILITIES, AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE BEEN PROTECTED AND PRESERVED FOR CENTURIES; AND WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF THE BAR REQUIRE KNOWLEDGEAND RELIABLE ASSISTANCE TO FULFILL THE DUTIES OF THEIR PROFESSION, AND PARALEGALS HAVE BECOME AN INVALUABLE SOURCE OF SUPPORT BY PROVIDING LAWYERS WITH A VARIETY OF SKILLED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THROUGHOUT THEIR PRACTICE; AND WHEREAS, PARALEGALS ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED, TRAINED, AND EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS WITH EXPERTISE IN LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING, CASE AND DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT, INTERVIEWING CLIENTS AND WITNESSES,TRIAL PREPARATION, AND OTHER CRITICAL AREAS OF SUCCESSFUL AND EFFICIENT LAW PRACTICES.
THEY ALSO ASPIRE TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY AND A HIGH DEGREE OF COMPETENCE AND ETHICS THROUGHOUT THE LEGAL PROFESSION; AND WHEREAS, THE PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA, INCORPORATED, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHAPTER; THE TAMPA BAY PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED; AND OTHER LIKE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PARALEGAL PROFESSION THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION, NETWORKING, AND RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM, SET ASIDE JUNE 4th, 2014, AS PARALEGAL DAY, IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN SALUTING THE IMPORTANT EXPERTISE AND HARD WORK OF PARALEGALS, EXECUTED THE 4th DAY OF JUNE, 2014, AND SIGNED BY THE SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
NOW, WHO IS THE SPOKESPERSON WHO WILL BE COMING FORTH THAT I'LL GIVE THIS TO?
ARE YOU THE SPOKESPERSON?
OKAY.
DON'T ALL JUMP AT ONE TIME NOW.
[LAUGHTER]
SOMEBODY, ANYBODY.
HERE YOU GO.
YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
I'LL HOLD ON TO IT.
> ON BEHALF OF OUR OFFICE, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND ON BEHALF OF THE TAMPA PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHAPTER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
> I AGREE.
I SECOND THAT ON BEHALF OF TAMPA BAY PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION AND ALL OF OUR MEMBERS.
WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION THAT YOU ALL ARE SHOWING US TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>LES MILLER, JR.: COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE.
>MARK SHARPE: IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD, WE'LL GET A GROUP PHOTO.
>RUSLANA PANOV: CAN YOU ALL PLEASE GET CLOSER TOGETHER, AND SHORTER PEOPLE IN FRONT, PLEASE.
>SANDRA MURMAN: OH, I THOUGHT SHE WANTED US TO GET CLOSER TOGETHER.
[LAUGHTER]
>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.
STAND BY.
>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: IF WE GET ANY CLOSER, THERE MAY BE NO SUNSHINE.
[LAUGHTER]
>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.
ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
AND OUR NEXT COMMENDATION ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD WILL BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER, FOR DOING THAT.
PARALEGALS KEEP ATTORNEYS OUT OF TROUBLE, BIG TIME.
[LAUGHTER]
I AM VERY PLEASED TODAY TO PRESENT THIS COMMENDATION TO SOMEBODY THAT IS A BIG PARTNER WITH US HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HEALTHCARE PLAN, AND IT IS THE TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS.
THEY ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 30th ANNIVERSARY, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, OF COURSE, WITH US HERE TODAY CELEBRATING THIS GREAT OCCASION HERE AT THE -- AT OUR BOARD MEETING IS CHARLIE BOTTOMS.
CHARLIE, YOU WANT TO STAND UP.
HE'S THE PRESIDENT AND CEO.
EDWARD KUCHER.
THERE'S ED.
YES.
THE TREASURER IS MR. JERRY MASONAND THEN MEMBERS ARE ERIC PEREZ AND JACKIE WALKER.
IF YOU WOULD ALL LIKE TO STAND AND MAYBE COME FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THE MISSION OF THE TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS, OF COURSE, IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE AND I THINK AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE TO A CULTURAL -- A CULTURALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
YOU MAKE SIZABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON LOW-INCOME MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS.
MANY OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE IMPORTED FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH FEDERAL GRANTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CARE PROGRAM SPENDING, WITH AN INCREASE IN THE STATE ECONOMIC LEVERAGE TO OUR FEDERAL MEDICAID MATCHING DOLLARS.
THEIR 30-YEAR TIMELINE IS REALLY DISTINGUISHABLE.
IT STARTED IN 19 -- OF COURSE, 1984 WHEN SEVERAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, PETER DAVIS AND ROBERT COLE -- THEY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR A GRANT TO ESTABLISH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN URBAN TAMPA, NOW KNOWN CREATING TAMPA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.
IN 1988 THEY OPENED A DESIGNATED LOCATION TO SERVICE HOMELESS RESIDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
IN 1998, TEN YEARS LATER, THE TAMPA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OPENED THEIR FIRST DENTAL CARE SERVICE AT THE LEE DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER.
2000 THEY OPENED THEIR FIRST PHARMACY OPERATION AT LEE DAVIS.
IN 2007 THEY CHANGED THEIR NAME TO TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS.
IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK YOU WERE EXPANDING MORE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
2011 YOU BEGAN YOUR FIRST FULL-TIME OBSTETRICS SERVICE AT FOUR LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
AND, OF COURSE, IN 2012 YOU RECEIVED SOME VERY IMPORTANT ACCREDITATION FROM THE ACCREDITATION ASSOCIATION FOR AMBULATORY HEALTH CARE.
YOU CURRENTLY OPERATE, AS OF 2013, 13 MEDICAL CLINICS, SEVEN DENTAL CENTERS, SEVEN PHARMACIES, A MOBILE DENTAL BUS, AND A MOBILE MEDICAL BUS, AND TOMORROW YOU WILL OPEN YOUR 31st FACILITY ON EAST SLIGH AVENUE, WHICH WILL SERVE NINE ZIP CODES WITH A POPULATION OF 45,228 RESIDENTS, AND THAT IS CERTAINLY MORE THAN WORTHY OF THIS COMMENDATION, AND I TELL YOU, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THE COMMENDATION READS, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COMMENDS THE TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS ON ITS 30th ANNIVERSARY OF PROVIDING QUALITY, CARING, AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE TO THE TAMPA BAY COMMUNITY.
TAMPA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1984, BECAME KNOWN AS TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS IN 2007.
TODAY, WITH 13 MEDICAL CLINICS, SEVEN DENTAL CENTERS, SEVEN PHARMACIES, MOBILE DENTAL BUS, MOBILE MEDICAL BUS, TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS WORKS TO ENSURE EVERYONE CAN RECEIVE INTERNAL MEDICINE, FAMILY PRACTICE, PEDIATRIC CARE, DENTISTRY, PREGNANCY, WOMEN'S CARE, AND PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES.
WE RECOGNIZE YOUR TEAM OF MORE THAN 400 MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND SUPPORT STAFF THAT WORKS TO FULFILL THE TFHC MISSION.
LAST YEAR, YOUR SERVICES TO MORE THAN 71,800 INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 173,500 MEDICAL VISITS, 36,500 DENTAL VISITS, 200,000 FILLED PRESCRIPTIONS, AND 40,000 ENABLING SERVICES.
THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO PUT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FIRST AND CELEBRATES WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES AND SUPPORTERS THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS CERTAINLY WORTHY OF THIS.
I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
HERE'S YOUR COMMENDATION.
> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK SANDY MURMAN AND ALL OF THE BOARD FOR THEIR SUPPORT, NOT JUST FOR THE COMMENDATION TODAY BUT FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AS A -- ONE OF THE FOUR MAJOR PROVIDERS UNDER THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HEALTH CARE PLAN.
WE HAVE GROWN THE PROGRAM AND WE HAVE PROVIDED CARE TO A VERY NEEDY POPULATION.
AS SANDY SAID, THAT WE WILL HAVE PROVIDED OVER 72,000.
BY NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE OVER 600 EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDE CARE TO OVER 100,000 INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND THESE ARE 98% LOW-INCOME, FEDERAL POVERTY.
OF THESE 600 EMPLOYEES, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HIRE FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND SO THE IMPORTANT PART IS WE'RE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO ONE OF OUR FACILITIES, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU -- I KNOW MOST OF YOU HAVE, I'VE SEEN YOU AT OUR FACILITIES, AND I -- I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
WE DO HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING TOMORROW MORNING, AND I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT, AND I'VE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.
WE UNDERSTAND.
BUT, AGAIN, I WANT TO REALLY THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
YOU-ALL HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB IN TAKING CARE OF THE HEALTH OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WE'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS.
THANK YOU.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS, SIR.
COMMISSIONER MILLER.
>LES MILLER, JR.: THANKS, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I THINK I -- I DON'T THINK, I KNOW, I MET CHARLIE BOTTOMS AND HIS GROUP MY FRESHMAN YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE BACK IN 1992 AND HAVE BEEN TO MANY, MANY OPENINGS THAT HE'S PROVIDED THE HEALTH CARE TO THOSE WHO NEEDED IT THE MOST.
I REMEMBER RECENTLY I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT AN AREA THAT NEEDED SOME HEALTH CAREAND THEY WERE LACKING, AND SOME OF THE CITIZENS WERE TALKING TO ME ABOUT THAT IN THAT PART OF GOING TO OUR SOUTH COUNTY, AND LO AND BEHOLD, CHARLIE WILL SOME KIND OF WAY REACHIN HIS MAGICAL HAT AND PULLOUT HIS MAGICAL WAND AND VOILA, THE SERVICES ARE THERE, AND THEY'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT BECAUSE HEALTH CARE IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.
YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD THAT YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH, YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST THROW IT AWAY.
AND CHARLIE, YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE BOARD HAVE DONE JUST THAT TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I'LL BE THERE TOMORROW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OPENINGS I'VE BEEN TO WITH YOU NOW, I'VE LOST COUNT, BUT I'LL BE THERE, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND YOUR BOARD FOR ALL THAT YOUDO TO TRY TO GIVE THOSE FOLKS THAT MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE THAT ACCESS, SO THANKS SO VERY MUCH.
> THANK YOU.
>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU.
AND CHARLIE AND EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S ALSO OUT THERE, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT DO YOU TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
AND COMMISSIONER MURMAN, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THIS GROUP, AS RIGHTFULLY SO.
YOU KNOW, SO MUCH WE'VE HEARD SEEMS TO POLITICIZE THE WHOLE ISSUE ON QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, AND IT'S JUST MYBEEN POSITION IT'S NOT -- IT SHOULD NOT -- IT'S A POSITION THAT SHOULD NEVER, EVER BE POLITICIZED, BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT'S INVOLVED AND PEOPLE THAT RECOGNIZE KNOW HOW MUCH AN IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE WHEN EVERYBODY HAS THAT ACCESS TO THE HEALTH CARE AND PEOPLE CAN ESPECIALLY GO THROUGH PREVENTATIVE CARE AND GET TREATMENT BEFORE THEY NEED TO ENTER INTO AN EMERGENCY ROOM.
CHARLIE, A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
OF THE WORK THAT YOU-ALL DO, HOW MUCH DO YOU-ALL RELY ON MEDICAID TO PROVIDE AND PAY FOR SERVICES?
> I -- MEDICAID MAKES UP APPROXIMATELY 40% OF OUR BUDGET.
THAT IS OUR MAIN PAYER SOURCE.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, GRANTS, FEDERAL GRANTS, STATE GRANTS, ANY KIND OF GRANTS AND FOUNDATION MONEY WE GET MAKES UP APPROXIMATELY 18% OF OUR BUDGET, TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
>KEVIN BECKNER: SO IF THE STATE WERE TO BRING IN MORE MEDICAID DOLLARS AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET MORE FUNDING FROM MEDICAID, THEN THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE QUALITY HEALTH CARE TO MORE OF OUR CITIZENS; IS THAT RIGHT?
> WE WOULD BE ABLE AT THAT POINT -- WE RUN 54% UNINSURED RIGHT NOW.
IF WE HAD THE MEDICAID UP TO THE MEDICAID EXPANSION THEY WERE TALKING, WE'D BE ABLE TO EXPAND AND TAKE CARE OF EVERY UNINSURED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT NEEDS CARE.
>KEVIN BECKNER: WOW.
> THAT AMOUNT OF MEDICAID FUNDS COMING IN WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR UNINSURED THAT WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL AS ALLOW US TO EXPAND INTO THE REST OF THE AREAS THAT NEED IT.
AND WE STILL HAVE SOME AREAS WE'RE EXPANDING.
WE HAVE TWO UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW, FLORIDA AND FLETCHER 30,000.
REPRESENTATIVE REED AND SECRETARY JOYNER BOTH REQUESTED US TO HAVE A SITE OVER ON SLIGH AND 56th.
THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND GROUNDBREAKING TOMORROW.
THAT'S WHAT THAT ONE'S FOR.
SO THE MEDICAID EXPANSION WOULD HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL.
WE'RE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT IT'S POLITICIZED, AS YOU SAID.
>KEVIN BECKNER: WELL, AND LET'S JUST HOPE THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DECISIONS CAN SET POLITICS ASIDE AND CAN SPEAK TO THE CITIZENS THAT NEED AND LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS THAT NEED THAT CARE AND SPEAK TO PROFESSIONALS LIKE YOU OF WHAT THOSE DOLLARS CAN ACTUALLY DO AND THE IMPACT THAT CAN HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.
TO EVERYBODY ELSE, I THINK IT'S ALL OF OUR JOBS TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS, SO WITH THAT, LET'S GET TO WORK.
> THANK YOU.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
IF YOU'D COME FORWARD, WE'LL GET A GROUP PHOTO.
>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.
STAND BY.
THANK YOU.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, CHARLIE.
> THANK YOU.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
COMMISSIONER HAGAN HAS AN EXCITING COMMENDATION TO PRESENT.
>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'M DELIGHTED TO PRESENT THIS NEXT PROCLAMATION TO JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM, AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO COME UP TO THE DAIS HERE.
I KNOW WITH US WE HAVE HEAD COACH RICHIE WARREN,WE HAVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS PETE YOUNG.