By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
SPENCER ó Members of the Spencer Board of Aldermen on Tuesday joined other local municipalities in seeking to have the Hefner VA Medical Center stay in place and remain in operation much as it now exists.
Spencer aldermen did so by approving a resolution that will be forwarded to local congressmen and other politicians who represent the area.
The resolution Spencer aldermen approved was written and first approved by members of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners asked representatives of governing boards throughout the county to approve the resolution.
It states that Spencer aldermen wish for the VA “to continue to provide high quality, patient-focused, cost effective health care to veterans without eliminating the necessary emergency and inpatient care that our veterans need.”
“We need to let our elected officials know” the VA is needed in its present state, said Spencer Mayor Jody Everhart.
Concern about the future of the VA arose earlier this fall with the announcement that the medical center is making a transition away from inpatient, emergency health and surgical services to a long-term care and mental health facility for veterans.
Some union leaders who represent VA workers have warned that the changes could result in hundreds of job losses and leave veterans dumped into private hospitals. Officials with the VA have denied such claims.
Aldermen said Tuesday they were joining a long line when they voted unanimously to support the resolution seeking to keep the VA in Salisbury in its present capacity.
Alderman Ken Womble, an Army veteran, referred to the VA as “one of the mainstays in this county.
“A lot of people on the eastern seaboard depend on this hospital,” he continued.
In other matters Tuesday, aldermen:
– Approved Christmas bonuses for town employees. Full-time employees will receive $110 plus $11 for each year of service. Part-time workers will receive $55. Everhart said there was a time when all employees received the same bonus, but it was later decided that those workers who stayed with the town for a number of years deserved more cash.
– Approved a motion authorizing the purchase of Nextel police radio upgrades at a cost not to exceed $7,000. The motion came at the recommendation of members of the board’s finance committee.
– Appointed Craig Powers to fill Tim Proper’s unexpired term on the town’s planning board.
– Adopted a resolution adopting the N.C. Fire Code and all its appendixes and authorizing Rowan County to enforce the fire code in the town.