PRESS RELEASE
Special District Association of Colorado
225 E. 16th Avenue, Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80203
www.sdaco.org
303-863-1733
Helen Spence Honored with SDA’s Board Member of the Year Award
At the Annual Conference, the Special District Association of Colorado (SDA) honored Helen Spence, a board member of the Plateau Valley Hospital District Board with, SDA’s 2013 Board Member of the Year Award.
SDA annually presents this award to a special district board member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication and service to their district. The award was announced at the SDA Annual Conference, which was held in Keystone, Colorado September 18-20, 2013.
Helen Spence was elected to the Plateau Valley Hospital District Board in 1994, in 2004 she was elected President and has served in that capacity ever since. Her historical knowledge of the District is invaluable. The Nursing Home portion of the District was one of the largest employers in the District.
The community took pride in being able to care for the elderly and keeping them in the valley they loved. In 2002, the Board had to make a very difficult and unpopular decision to close the Nursing Home.
The District reserves were dwindling rapidly and there were changes in regulations that were adding additional financial strain. The decision to close the Nursing Home allowed the Medical Clinic portion to continue to operate. The Medical Clinic affects a greater number of taxpayers and allows the District to offer high quality health services.
The Board went to the taxpayers to allow the District to “deBruce” and reinstate the mill levy to its original level by approving the election question. Helen was also a part of the rebuilding of the District when it opened a second clinic in the town of Mesa with the help of several grants.
The District now has a new clinic building in the town of Collbran, which was completely funded.
The Special District Association is proud to recognize Helen Spence as Board Member of the Year.
For further information, please contact:
Carlton Mundus
SDA Special Projects
(303) 863-1733 or Carlton@sdaco.org
*** A picture of Ms. Spence is attached ***