— from Pegi A. Groundwater for Orcas Island Health Care District —
On November 1st Orcas Island Health Care District bought the Medical Clinic building from the Orcas Medical Foundation, an island non-profit. Richard Fralick, President of the Board of Commissioners of the District and Leslie Murdock, President of OMF, are shown signing the sale documents.
The District’s Board of Commissioners determined that acquiring the building was a necessary step in assuring the continuing availability of quality health care on Orcas. At the time of the purchase the District also entered into a new lease for the building with the University of Washington Neighborhood Clinics, which operates the UW Medicine Orcas Island Clinic in the building.
Constructed in 1992 with more than $1 million in funds raised by OMF from generous island donors, the building needs a new roof, repainting and a new HVAC system. In recent years, OMF has found it increasingly difficult to raise enough money to sustain the building and support medical care on the island. Many of its most generous donors have moved off island or passed away.
The creation of the Health Care District was approved by Orcas voters in May to provide a stable source of funding to support health care on our island. The Commissioners have earmarked funds in the 2019 budget to make the necessary repairs to the building.
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Comment to Pegi Groundwater: Shouldn’t the commission, in the spirit of transparency, disclose in such a press release what was paid for the building? It’s an obvious question. I have no opinion on whether this was a good thing or not, but (like most of us on the Island) my property taxes are about to go up significantly and I kinda think it’s only fair that the commission who will receive my levy funds should anticipate obvious questions, and provide answers before we have to ask.
And to the OMF, a related and equally obvious question: What is the future of this nonprofit, and what will happen to any assets it has had, or will gain as a result of this transaction? Certainly those of us who have helped OMF deserve the courtesy of an answer.
Or did I miss something?
Doug, good questions all. The building was sold for $350,000 approximately. As a current OMF Board member I can tell you that the Foundation will wind down and cease to exist. As a volunteer organization, relying on donations, it did not make sense to continue, given the existence of the newly formed District.
I support your call for transparency. I hope OMF and the PHD provide that.
Thanks, Leslie, for explaining that this means the Orcas Medical Foundation will defer to the new regime and cease to exist.