May 17, 1999

To The Mayor and Commissioners,

I am writing this letter in reference and support to CHN's letter recently sent to you. Although we all feel positive about ARMC's recent cooperative spirit on the 10-20 year plan, I would like to voice grave concerns about the entire process and ACC responsibility to it's citizens.

As previously stated, the 5 year plan puts certain things into motion that are irreversible, and potentially blocks best options for the long range plan. My real concern is in the entire concept of this plan and ARMC's exemption from the ACC planning process. ACC has a master plan for land use and it is called zoning. It is a corporation's responsibility to follow these guidelines or go through the planning process with the city, which includes a place for public input. Although we all understand the hospital's exemption from this process and have historically supported hospital growth in the past, this recent proposal by ARMC for growth and ACC responsibility to it's citizens and neighborhoods seems a little different.

When Athens Regional reorganized in the mid to late '90's from a hospital with governmental powers to a multifaceted corporation, this whole process of exemption comes into question. This recent growth plan is not about hospital growth, but about corporate growth. ARMC itself admits that they need no more land for hospital growth. It seems evident that these laws that apply to exemption from the process, eminent domain, etc. were established for hospitals only, at a time when hospitals were not corporations involved in numerous competitive arenas. ARMC's privilege and power to be exempt from the established process of land use carries a huge responsibility which was not exercised here, and whether this exemption applies to corporate growth with ARMC's new corporate structure is highly questionable.

It is ACC responsibility to look out for the good of the community as far as health care by supporting necessary moves by the hospital to provide necessary inpatient care. When this gets into corporate growth and the competitive market, it must become ACC responsibility to look out for the neighborhoods and citizens. ACC should be shouting loudly with outrage that ARMC world even propose corporate growth outside of appropriately zoned areas.

As a result of this highly complicated issue which suggests a serious abuse of power by a "Quasi governmental" (quote from Mr. Drew) entity, ACC voting citizens expect it's elected officials to support us in this process with ARMC. Again we have no objection to hospital growth and the use of these rights and powers in this respect. Thank you for your time and willingness to serve.

Respectfully submitted, Tracey McDonald

cc: Carl Nichols