Valencia County Commissioner Georgia Otero-Kirkham said at last night’s commission meeting that Valencia Health Commons, the nonprofit managing the hospital project, held its first meeting since a lawsuit challenging the validity of its project management contract with the county was resolved.

While that initial lawsuit was resolved when the New Mexico Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the case, a new lawsuit challenging the contract and a $30,000 donation by the county to Valencia Health Commons was filed on Monday.

Otero-Kirkham, who was appointed to the health commons board last month, said the board discussed alternative sites for the hospital. Right now, the proposed location for the hospital is near the intersection of Hillandale Avenue and the Manzano Expressway in Rio Communities.

She said the board also approved the language of a request for proposal for healthcare service providers, as well as a memorandum of understanding that eventually would be signed with the chosen provider.

The board took action despite the lawsuit pending in district court.

This page was published on May 13, 2010 at 12:00pm and is filed under Hospital.