The decision made by the current Douglas County commissioners to abruptly terminate our relationship with Tri-County Health is reckless, selfish and a waste of taxpayer money.

The current commissioners do not seem concerned with their impulsive, unilateral decision to terminate a 50-year relationship with Tri-County Health without gathering feedback from the 351,000 residents of Douglas County.

I, for one, have many questions. At the beginning of the pandemic, I began attending the weekly Tri-County Health town-hall calls. Over time, the commissioners became more impatient with the Tri-County Health board’s unwillingness to push for the reopening of Douglas County businesses when scientific evidence deemed that it was not safe to do so.

The current commissioners were dismissive of the science and began espousing their personal views about personal liberty. Well, it is my right to be safe in my community.

Lora Thomas stated, “We have a representative form of government and is imperative that our citizens have their needs recommended.” She is exactly right. Did I miss the conversations between the current commissioners and our residents about leaving Tri-County Health? Ms. Thomas needs to show us what discussions she and the other commissioners have had with Dougco residents that led her to conclude that this move is in the best interests of our residents.

I want to hear the justification and have the current commissioners defend their decision when asked tough questions by our citizens. As our elected representatives, that is their job.

Gail Frances

Highlands Ranch