by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington City Council formed a task force a few months ago to meet with the Sumner Regional Medical Center board members in hopes of solving some of the hospital’s financial woes.

On Tuesday, that task force was dissolved.

Upon the recommendation of SRMC Board President Fred Hinman, the task force that involved several community leaders will no longer exist.

Hinman’s reasoning was simple. They could not share all the information available to the task force members.

SRMC is currently being sued by Quality Health Care, who ran the hospital’s behavioral health unit from 2010 until early 2017.  The lawsuit filed in Sedgwick County District Court says that SRMC defaulted on the agreement and owes QHC more than $717,000 in management fees.

Hinman told the council at its Tuesday meeting that because of litigation, the board can’t share that information with those on the task force. Therefore, if they are unable to communicate with them freely, then the group as a whole is basically hamstrung and ineffective.

By unanimous council consent the task force is now history.

“You guys have your hands full without another meeting, another night and another player,” said Bill Butts, Wellington council member.

Hinman did provide the council with good news, which ironically came from the new “BHU” unit – which is now open.

“If there is any good news going on this is it,” Hinman said. “We opened a week ago. We are already full and have a waiting list.”

The BHU unit is a 10-bed unit and plans to add two more beds to the facility in the near future.

Hinman then said the hospital is currently in discussion with the hiring of a full time physician to manage the emergency room.

Council member Jim Valentine asked if the SRMC board has been in contact with the physicians at Sumner Family Care Center.

“We have been exchanging e-mails,” Hinman said. “It should be noted that they will be losing this business if we hire this physician. There is potential for conflict.”

Hinman said according to a survey, one out of three patients that come through the SRMC E.R. does not have a physician or is going out of town.

“That is why it is essential to have a full time physician to capture more patients,” Hinman said.

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Golf course leasing:

The council approved by a 4-2 vote to enter into a 60-month lease purchase agreement with Van Wall Equipment, Inc. of Olathe for 14 pieces of maintenance equipment. That equates to $416,201 or $7,524 monthly lease payments.

The equipment includes: a fairway mowing unit, hybrid greens mowers, bunker/field rake, three rotary deck terrain rough mowers, three electric utility vehicles, reel grinders, tract mountable aerator, walk behind aerate, riding green roller, Vicon spreader, thatcher/seeder, and tractor mounted pull behind finish ride motor.

Wellington Municipal Golf Director Derek Harrison said there was originally 19 pieces of equipment, but of the five vendors who made bids, only Van Well Equipment made a bid on all requested items — and it was over budget. So the list was pared to 14.

Wellington City Manager Shane Shields said the lease payments are within the $100,000 that was budgeted to the golf course this year.

Council member Jan Korte said she was under the impression when making the budget last year that the $100,000 was to go to the purchase of selected number of equipment, and that each year equipment needs would be revisited.

“I’m against the city making lease payments,” Korte said.

Harrison responded that with the little amount of money the city provides in the capital outlay budget, that there is no other choice but to lease.

“You can’t borrow your way out of debt,” Valentine said.

The motion passed with members Butts, Vince Wetta, Kip Etter and Kelly Hawley approving the lease agreement and Korte and Valentine voting against it.

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Withdrawing the wine:

After spending an hour on not establishing a public consumption area (see story here), the council did not have to decide on a proposal by Wyldewood Cellars Winery to sale wine at Sellers Park for a wine tasting contest at the arts and crafts fair at Sellers Park.

The company had already withdrawn their proposal.

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In other news, the council approved:

•Giving owner Jerry Putter 60 additional days to clean up a dilapidated building at 605 East 9th Street across from the football field;

•An ordinance that gives the city the authority to establish public designated alcohol consumption areas;

•The Commerce Trust Company for tax credits for the Liberty Hall/Memorial Auditorium renovation project in 2014 for $14,579;

•Amended repair to an internal shaft at the city gas turbine generator;

•Three block parties for street closing requests, and the closing of a street for the power mower races in front of Wellington Sears during the Kansas Wheat Festival.

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