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Issue 1A: Memorial Hospital's future in the hands of voters
Posted: 08.06.2012 at 9:34 PM
Updated: 08.07.2012 at 2:45 PM
Rachel Welte

Rachel Welte is the Weekend News Anchor and a General Assignment Reporter.

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Issue 1A will decide the future of Memorial Health System  / FOX21: Mike Duran
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- In just three weeks voters will decide the future of Memorial Hospital.

The city's municipal election is slated for Aug. 28.

Issue 1A is the only ballot question, and asks voters to approve or deny the city's plan to make Memorial Health System a partner with the University of Colorado Health under a 40-year lease.

"This lease to the University of Colorado Health is by far the best direction, it gets Colorado Springs out of the hospital business," Mayor Steve Bach said.

During a press conference Monday, Mayor Bach and several other city and community leaders encouraged citizens to vote "yes" on 1A. 

"I call it a watershed moment," Bach said. "Once in a generation we have the opportunity to make a quantum leap forward in our city, and this is one of those moments."

"It supports a really rich tradition from Memorial, but it also brings some things to this community that we need," UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said. "It expands our opportunity for clinical education."

But not everyone is in agreement.

At least two anonymous websites have popped up in recent weeks detailing the reasons why voters should check "no."

One of them is titled "No Hospital Scam."

It lists 12 reasons why the lease is a bad idea, including the University of Colorado Health's offer, current employee tenure and pension, and the lack of local control. 

Supporters, including Mayor Bach, refuted the claims and said the lease is a win-win.

"The relationship with U.C. Health will not only deliver better heath care to patients, it will ensure those most in need continue to get help," Mayor Bach said. "We will continue to honor TRICARE, Medicare and Medicaid, and the current employees will remain employed."

Ballots for the municipal election are being mailed out this week.

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