Supes reject MCH consultant fees

A discussion and consideration item that was presented to the Madera County Board of Supervisors at its last meeting was about to taking the first step to getting Madera Community Hospital reopened.

However, the item to pay $250,000 for consulting firm Kaufman, Hall & Associates did not pass by a majority vote. Supervisors Leticia Gonzalez and Jordan Wamhoff approved the plan, however, Supervisors David Rogers and Bobby Macauley voted no. Supervisor Robert Poythress was absent from the meeting, attending the California Board of Governors meeting.

“In the last few months, I have participated in a number of meetings regarding the Madera Community Hospital closure,” Gonzalez said. “I have listened to and spoken with concerned residents since its closure. Learning about the complexity of hospitals is more than one can imagine. Yet, we have worked diligently with our state representatives and stakeholders to find ways to bring accessible healthcare to Madera County residents.