The Basin Clinic Board of Directors met May 19 for their regular monthly meeting. Nucla Mayor Paula Brown spoke to the board during the public comment section.
She told the board the Town of Nucla “pretty unanimously” supports the board’s efforts to build a critical access hospital (CAH).
“We just want you to know that we’re willing to help in whatever way we can,” said Brown.
Brown added that she hopes the CAH will be constructed in Nucla. She said construction of it in Nucla could offer an advantage to the town’s businesses, as unlike Naturita, Nucla isn’t located on Highway 141.
Brown added that she would also like to see the CAH within city limits because the town already has water and sewer, and the facility would be in closer proximity to those using it, such as the school.
Basin Clinic Executive Director Christina Pierce recently told the Forum that county commissioners will hold a hearing for the clinic’s service plan at the Nucla Community Center on June 10 at 6 p.m.
Of that meeting, Brown told the board, “If everything works out, I’ll say a few words at the hearing on behalf of the town.”
Pierce told the board she recently interviewed two candidates interested in becoming providers at the Basin Clinic. As both candidates currently live outside of the community, the board discussed the importance of giving potential new providers a tour of the area, in addition to opportunities to engage with locals before hiring them on.
The board discussed the formation of a special board, should the hospital district get approved. It would govern the hospital district, and members would be elected.
“We also need to get out to the community that we will need five members for that special board,” said board secretary Lorraine Garvey.
If the board’s service plan is approved by county commissioners and district courts, petitions must be completed to get the proposal onto ballots. The board noted that all required signatures would need to be collected between July 1-14.
The board revisited the topic of financial reviews and audits.
Board President Chris Daniels said auditing companies reported they would be better prepared to do an audit of the clinic’s finances, if a financial review was done first.
The board passed a motion to pursue a financial review for the fiscal year of 2025.
The board reviewed bids from two surveyors, as the boundaries of the proposed hospital district need to be established. They carried a motion to accept a bid from a surveyor located in Nucla.
The board discussed their upcoming annual meeting, at which two seats will be open. They addressed the need to start advertising soon, as those interested in running for a seat will need to submit letters of intent before the annual meeting takes place.
Current board members include Don Colcord, Ruth Reams, Bob Ralph and Paula Riley. Chris Daniels serves as president, Lorraine Garvey as secretary and Peggy Case as treasurer.
Regular board meetings take place at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at Nucla’s Hopkin’s Field Airport. Meetings are open to the public, and can also be accessed through Zoom. A link to Zoom meetings is available on the Basin Clinic’s website.
This story is funded by the Telluride Foundation through a grant dedicated to health care reporting for 2026.
