Lamb County Commissioners conducted a regular business meeting Monday morning, Jan. 24, 2022, with Lamb County Judge James M. DeLoach presiding.
He led the Pledges of Allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags, and offered the opening prayer.
Judge DeLoach called for anyone who wished to make a public comment on any of the agenda items, and since no one made a comment, that agenda item was closed.
The Consent Agenda Items require no deliberation by the court, so each member of the court has the prerogative of removing an item from that agenda, so that it may be considered separately.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
a. Minutes from the Jan. 10 2022 meeting were considered first.
b. There were no budget and salary amendments and/or lineitem transfers to be considered.
c. Bills presented by the County Auditor included: $96,474.29 for Lamb County; and the total of $579,846.07 for the hospital, for a total of $676,320.36 in bills that are to be paid.
d. Payrolls submitted by the Lamb County Treasurer included: $151,880.26 for Lamb County, ending Jan. 14, 2022; and $181,458.91 for Lamb Healthcare Center, ending Jan. 15, 2022.
e. Departmental reports were in the packets of each of the commissioners.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Lee Logan made the motion, and Precinct 3 Commissioner Danny Short seconded the motion to approve the Consent agenda Items, and the motion passed unanimously.
For Agenda item 4, the commissioners discussed a wrecked stock trailer, and voted to declare the trailer as salvage and to advertise for sealed bids to sell it.
Judge DeLoach suggested that they hold onto the money, so 4-H can use it to buy another if they choose to do so, rather than try to repair it.
For Agenda 5, Lamb County Clerk Tonya Ritchie explained they will need to get some workers for the upcoming March 1, 2022 Primary Election.
They discussed the Central Counting Stations, the Early Voting Ballot Board, and Judge and Poll Workers for the March 1, 2022 Primary Election.
There was also a question on whether the early voting should be conducted in the Courthouse, in the County Clerk’s office (because of crowds that might gather).
For Agenda 6, Cindy Klein, Chief Executive Officer of Lamb Healthcare Center, presented information to the Commissioners about the hospital’s operations.
She explained that “sometimes conditions have been stressful and painful” for the staff.
She also reviewed the hospital’s financial status.
She reported that the total revenue is $4,004,565, which is down $2,140,897 from the previous year. This is mainly due to a $1,367,358 reduction in inpatient Covid patients and outpatient revenue of $965,717, which is mostly due to SleepTek revenue.
She reported that total operating expenses were reduced by $392,365 from the prior year.
Salaries were down, due to less staffing needs this year. Also medical supplies and pharmaceuticals are both down, due to less inpatients per Covid.
Depreciation expenses are up, due to new equipment purchased last year.
The net of income and expense is $144,144, which is down $1,810,865, due to a decrease in inpatient (Covid) and SleepTek revenue.
The report on the LHC Family Medicine Clinic in Littlefield, shows that as of Dec. 31, 2021, it had monthly revenue before contractuals in the amount of $187,232, and after $272,300 in total expenses, the net of revenue and expense is ($85,068).
The LHC Family Clinic had 1,829 office visits for the month, when 4,900 total procedures were done.
The revenue, with lab, was $377,461.65; while revenue with write offs came to $312,867.43; and receipts were $121,770.52.
The Olton Rural Health Clinic had 231 office visits, when 534 total procedures were done.
Its revenue, with lab was $60,842.42; while revenue with write offs was $57,589.84; and receipts were $14,269.12,
For future agenda items, Judge DeLoach talked about Lamb County’s redistricting maps, and advised that voters should be receiving their Voter Registration Cards in the next few days. They reflect the voter precinct changes that have been made.
The meeting adjourned at 10:35