By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital
The fate of the forlorn Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital may now be in the hands of San Benito city officials to decide.
Dolly went to auction early in November at the courthouse steps in Brownsville and received one bid of $10,000 by Southern Counties Investment Group, LLC. The facility has been appraised at an estimated $1,020,356.
Dolly is presently owned by three taxing entities – the City of San Benito, San Benito CISD and Cameron County – in which $284,000 in back-owed taxes are owed for 2010 and 2011, and taxes owed for 2012. All entities must vote to approve the offer from Southern Counties or it will become null.
At the last meeting of the San Benito City Commission, after meeting with attorneys in closed session, commissioners with Mayor Joe H. Hernandez voted to table the offer until the other taxing entities had reviewed the bid.
The county met last week and unanimously approved the offer. At a special meeting of the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District on Thursday, November 29, trustees voted to approve the $10,000 bid.
According to City Secretary Lupita Passement, Dolly will be placed on the agenda of the city’s next scheduled meeting, slated for December 4 at the Municipal Building.
School Board Trustee Oscar Medrano said Thursday that he would like to extend his gratitude to the group known as Save Dolly, for the work they’ve done over the last several months to bring attention to the building’s potential. Medrano specifically thanked the group’s founder, San Benito Rotary Club President Lionel Betancourt, and “everyone who has been a part of the Save Dolly” campaign.
From the total sale, the City of San Benito stands to see a little over $146,000. John Guevara of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, and Sampson, tax attorneys representing the three entities, mentioned that Dolly could go back up on the auction block in June of 2013 if the offer is not approved by the city and no additional private offers are received. Also according to Guevara, it’s not presently known what the group plans to do with the facility if their bid is approved.
“I am disappointed that the school and the county voted in favor of accepting the bid because no one seems to know what the investment group will do with the facility,” said Betancourt, whose desire is for Dolly to re-open as a medical facility. Betancourt continued, “I hope there can be some way to know what the buyers plan for the group. Hopefully, we find this out in a short time, sooner than later.”
Betancourt said he plans to attend the December 4 meeting of the city commission.
Read this story in the Dec. 2 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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Mr. Betancourt, in fact, is not “dictating” to potential buyers what to build or what business will come to San Benito; rather, he, just like the city and school district, is interested if the new owners will become taxpayers. A non-profit business will not necessarily pay taxes to all three entities, while a for-profit business will. Shouldn’t we be interested (not dictate) on who will benefit our community to the greatest extent?
Besides trying to dictate to the new owners what to build or do with their new property that “they are paying for”, what else has Mr. Betancourt done for the city to deserve such big praise.
Why doesnt Mr. Betancourt make a financial offer and then he can build or do whatever he wants with the property?
I have never heard of a seller selling a property and demanding what the new owner do with the property. That is not how capitalism works.
To We the people: you SIT DOWN AND BE QUIET! Like Lisa said, you do not speak for me either and for that matter, you do not speak for my many, many family members. We The People Who Care About San Benito are thankful Mr. Bentacourt is involved. My family hopes more people like him get involved in CITY and School District Business. As other people have said, “How did those city officials and school board officials get elected?”
Thank goodness this town has a well respected man like Mr. Bentancourt watching what is happening in this city. If you do not like what is happening, then we suggest you get involved. This town and school district is sinking and sinking every time they are in the news. We wonder if any public officials read the news or for that matter watch the news? How did any of them get elected?
WE THE PEOPLE, you SIT DOWN and SHUT UP! You DO NOT speak for me, so don’t call yourself “We The People” This world needs more people like Mr. Betancourt who will STAND UP and SPEAK UP for the Greater Good. San Benito is going to CRAP, and it’s all because of ugly, negative people like you.
Betancourt, he’s ready to lead. If he runs for mayor or commissioner he’s got my vote.! And Medrano although he is really needed in the School Board to keep things in check he’s turning out to be an excellent leader. San Benito is lucky to have thses folks. When back taxes are owed it may just make some people overistimate the values of what lies ahead for Dolly. I just pray something good and positive comes from it.
Betancourt needs to SIT DOWN and SHUT UP! He is a busybody that has had too much to say already!