By JOE BOCANEGRA
Special to the NEWS
Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital
The fate of the forlorn Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital has now passed through the hands of taxing entities and into the possession of new owners.
Tuesday, the San Benito City Commission voted unanimously to approve a $10,000 bid by Southern Counties Investment Group, LLC. Back taxes currently owed on the facility, which has been appraised at approximately $1 million, amount to $284,000 based on fees from 2010-2012.
The motion was first made by Commissioner J. D. Penny, which was then seconded by Commissioner Joe D. Gonzalez.
The decision, however, comes as a blow to Save Dolly campaigners, a local group comprised of citizens and members of the San Benito Rotary Club and Historical Society whose mission was to restore the facility in hopes of wooing prospective buyers. Although the building has now been sold, people such as Lionel Betancourt, San Benito Rotary Club president and founder of the Save Dolly campaign, are concerned about the function the property will serve. Specifically, Betancourt and other campaign volunteers, not to mention many in the community, would like to see Dolly Vinsant return to its medical roots.
“I am very disappointed,” said Betancourt. “The playing field was not the same to all of the folks who wanted to do something in the health care district.” He added that the campaign might no longer be needed. “The Save Dolly program was generated to initially make the property as nice and neat as we could for prospective buyers. As it turned out, according to how it was played, it didn’t need to be cleaned. We lost, and we will get together to take down the signs. We have faded off into to the sunset.”
However, a representative of the purchasing group, Roberto Rodriguez, discussed plans with commissioners that involved a possible future for the hospital. “The project that we have is in investing in the hospital,” he said in Spanish. “We have several medical representatives, doctors, which are from Monterrey and will be visiting the property to see what we can do to the property. We will also have engineers and construction to come to see what can be done to the building.”
Although there is rumor that the group will raze the building, Rodriguez denies as much. “Right now, the plan is to invest in the facility itself,” he said, “and to have the representatives come here and see what we can do to help out.”
Betancourt remains unconvinced. “Rest assured,” Betancourt said, “that we will keep a close eye on the people who asked for the property to see what they do with it. Maybe something decent will happen. We don’t know.”
Read this story in the Dec. 5 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
4 comments
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Paco Rabane is totally right when he mentioned on the topic he did not understand.
“Rest assured,” Betancourt said, “that we will keep a close eye on the people who asked for the property to see what they do with it.
Geez, does he wants a seat at the table for cutting the grass? If it were that important to him and the group, I don’t understant why they wouldn’t attempt to raise the money and but the building.
Said Betancourt. “The playing field was not the same to all of the folks who wanted to do something in the health care district.” What the heck are you talking about??
Anyone that had the money to bid from the property had AMPLE and EQUAL opportunity. Stop whining.
WeThe people is right and has some good key words “that had the money”