Pat Rousseau Precinct 3

Welcome 2022! Summaries from 2021 continued: Today's review addresses the Medical Services Facility Request for Proposals, Interviews, and Outcomes. Sometimes the end is not exactly what you had in mind when you started, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing!

On March 22, 2021 the Commissioners Court approved the terms and issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify an operator(s) for a proposed medical facility to be funded by a $10 million grant from the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The stated purpose of the project and associated facility was to enhance and increase medical services in the community, including those facilities lost in the region due to Hurricane Harvey and COVID. Both private and not-for-profit entities were encouraged to submit proposals. The scope of the RFP encouraged proposals for the following uses:
• Hospital
• Outpatient facilities
• Ambulatory Surgery Center
• Federally Qualified Health Center
• Rural Health Clinic
• Urgent Care Center
• Other medical services and facilities to enhance services in Aransas County

Local individuals with previous or current medical experience were appointed to the Selection Committee: Commissioner Pat Rousseau, Nancy Kinkler, Dr. Ronald Bruce, Jennifer Racette, Grant Douglass, and Matt Brewington. All had medical backgrounds and included hospital administrators, medical educators, a practicing physician, and medical-staffing recruiters. Aransas County issued the RFP and sent out approximately 160 invitation notices. The bid process closed on May 27, 2021. The County received three responses to the RFP; two were considered responsive and one was unresponsive (insufficient information provided). The proposals were for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) from Amistad and an ambulatory surgery center from HCA.

The Selection Committee met, scored the proposals, and developed follow-up questions to be used in conducting independent interviews with both of the qualified proposers. The committee also met with the County Treasurer to receive information about the uses for the County’s Health Care Sales Tax and the Indigent Care Fund. In July, the Selection Committee met with the two proposers and conducted interviews. A recommendation was made to the Court by the Selection Committee to award contracts to both entities, Amistad for an FQHC and HCA for their revised proposal. NOTE: HCA determined that an ambulatory surgical center would not be financially viable for several years so they proposed an expansion of their emergency room services instead.

Aransas County signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Aransas County Medical Services Inc. (ACMSI) to partner on the medical facility project. The agreement provided for the new facility to be located at 400 Enterprise Drive, a site owned by ACMSI. The agreement stated that ACMSI would have final ownership of the facility. As such, ACMSI would coordinate with Aransas County on the operating agreement to ensure grant compliance, but ACMSI would lead the contract negotiations. An amendment to the grant needed to be approved by GLO before contracts could be signed. The use of the grant proceeds had changed from a micro-hospital to two medical services facilities. The construction period needed to be extended by approximately 24 months to allow for the delay in negotiations. Neither of these amendments to be requested had guaranteed approval from GLO.

The final decision was that HCA would work independently with ACMSI on the expansion of the Rockport 24/7 Emergency Room and grant funds would not be used for that endeavor. Amistad is currently looking for a location in Aransas County to serve its target population. The County may find a way to assist Amistad without using the GLO grant to acquire property. The Commissioners Court recently sent an amendment requesting GLO to approve combining the $10 million grant with other Hurricane Harvey GLO funded mitigation projects (drainage, stormwater, road repairs) which are experiencing cost overruns. A response is expected within the next 1-4 months.

Welcome to 2022. I thought that I would share a review of my first year in office as Precinct 3 County Commissioner. While Commissioners Court is scheduled to semi-monthly, the work actually involves meeting with assorted department heads, individuals, and officials every week for different purposes. Responding to the phone requests, texts, and personal inquiries of my constituents and County residents in general is certainly important work. Even if I am not able to resolve every problem, I want to insure that the person received information that was helpful or clarified his or her issue

For the next several days, I will post summaries of the major undertakings and/or accomplishments of the past year.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): The County received about $4.5 million from the Federal Government to use as mitigation for the negative impact of COVID-19. Although initially I proposed a committee that would include members of the community such as school district, hospitality, & non-profits, the Court appointed two Commissioners (Casterline and Rousseau), a member of the Long Term Recovery Team (Foutz), and County Auditor (Cockerham). Members sought input from community groups and leaders on recommended and eligible projects. A final list was voted upon for funding approval at the Commissioners Court meeting on 9/27/2021:.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), COVID test kits, Sanitization products ($250,000)
• Records storage and management/accessibility to public – District Clerk’s office ($1,000,000)
• Records storage and management/accessibility to public – County Clerk’s office ($1,000,000)
• Potable water storage tank for Jail and protective barrier for tank ($100,000)
• Website development and redesign ($70,000)
• 3 Portable message trailers to improve public communication, total cost for 3 trailers ($50,000)
• Infrastructure construction/repair to protect clean water ($1,500,000)
• Generator for Animal Control facilities ($90,000)
• Generator for AgriLife Extension office ($90.000)
• GrantWorks administration estimated fees ($150,000)

Total estimated amount of recommended projects: $4,300,000

Other proposals considered but not recommended at this time:
• Fiber optic (loop and last mile), project not likely to be approved with SLFRF but may qualify under competitive funds.
• Affordable housing, no feasible option presented that was likely to be approved.
• Childcare needs and facility, need more clearly defined request. May qualify as FEMA Public Assistance Project.
• Education, not likely to be approved
• Tourism, non-profits’ suggestions: billboards, tourism shuttle bus, Art Center expansion; projects not likely to be approved
• Healthcare, funding recommended above for PPE and test kits, allocation made in FY 2022 Budget from Health Care Sales Tax fund.
• Workforce facility/training; Del Mar College is requesting funding via the ARPA EDA competitive Good Jobs Challenge Grant.
• Water and wastewater improvements, addressed above.
• Fire department equipment and other eligible uses, may qualify under competitive funds.

Requests for Proposals (RFPs) have been issued and received for some of the projects. Contracts have been approved and work either has begun or will soon be underway.

WALK-IN VACCINATION CLINIC TO BE HELD MARCH 17-18

The Texas Division of Emergency Management will be hosting a free, walk- in COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Wednesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 18 at the Fulton Convention Center (Paws and Taws), which is located at 402 N. Fulton Beach Rd. There will be no appointments for this event.
The vaccinations will begin at 8 am and will continue throughout the day until the allocated doses have been used. As of Monday, March 15, individuals who are 50-64 years of age have been added to the list of eligible recipients.
Participants are asked to park in the legal parking locations adjacent to Center. Please enter the building through the front door and you will be directed by staff. This location offers access services for people with disabilities and those with other functional needs. If you need any assistance, please alert the staff upon arrival.
Social distancing and safety precautions will be in place and masks are required. At this time, there has not been a notification as to which vaccine will be offered.

Latest update that I have regarding the covid vaccines was released Friday, 1/22/21.

COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC SUCCESSFUL;
NEW VACCINATION WAITLIST IMPLEMENTED
Due to the efforts by community leaders and elected officials, the Rockport-Fulton community was able to get 300 vaccines to test the area’s ability to successfully host a COVID-19 vaccine drive-through event in Aransas County on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
DSHS Public Health Region 11 Medical Director and staff were present to monitor how our event proceeded. A list of individuals meeting Schedule 1A and 1B requirements were received from various non-profit organizations, physician offices and other programs as trial candidates. The process identified a few minor logistical changes that will be made in the future, overall, the event was successful. Event organizers hope to receive a positive response from DSHS to allow them to provide the vaccine on a regular basis within Aransas County.
In the past, community leaders have been given as little as 12 hours’ notice of a vaccine. Note that Aransas County Medical Services, Inc., (ACMSI) is not a COVID 19 vaccine provider. ACMSI is compiling a list to assist our community and encourages citizens to continue to find vaccines wherever available.
Community leaders ask that the public remain patient as they work through this process and the state and federal governments make vaccine available. Information will be posted as it is made available through the local government web sites, social media and the newspaper.
Residents are invited to put their name and phone number on a list to be contacted for future vaccination events, please go to https://forms.gle/kLvfut9h1S7nC2759 to sign up. If a resident does not have access to a computer, they should send a letter with their name and contact phone number to: Vaccination, Aransas County. 2840 Hwy 35 N. Rockport, TX 78382. Information will not be taken by phone from any entities.
This list is for priorities 1A and 1B only. This program is separate from the vaccinations being offered by local pharmacies and others. This list does not guarantee anyone the vaccine, it simply lets organizers know you need the vaccine.
As a reminder, Aransas County residents are NOT restricted to receiving the vaccine within the County. For information on vaccination sites within Texas, please visit a site maintained by the Texas Departments of Emergency Management and State Health Services - https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html.

www.arcgis.com