County to discuss Children’s latest counter offer Monday

. i think both sides are actually making a good faith effort at this point, and you know that’s something we haven’t seen in a while . another day… another new deadline. and another counter offer in the children’s hospital bankruptcy. we’re making sense of a story that may otherwise have you scratching your head tonight. good evening and thank you for joing us on abc- seven at six tonight. i’m estela cas. and i’m rick cabrera. children’s hospital did what u- m-c asked of it and responded to u-m-c’s latest proposal by 10 o’clock this morning. within the last hour we’ve learned children’s gave u-m-c until monday at noon to repy. the county hospital –and county commissioners– will have to decide whether they will continue with efforts to save children’s from a financial disaster. el paso county leaders also say a decision needs to be finalized by monday so u-m-c can set its budget for the upcoming year. abc-seven’s complete coverage… … continues with reporter darren hunt. estela, several times this week we’ve talked about final deadlines for this deal that have come and gone … but speaking with county officials today, for the first time there was a sense that an agreement could actually be made by monday: “we’ve had more progress in one week than has existed in a year.” county judge veronic escobar is optimistic a deal can be struck. “everybody wants the same end result, its just figuring out the bridge to get there.” escobar says there’s still one sticking point, but she’s keeping that and all details confidential. but she did say why she thinks the tone of negotiations has changed. “children’s recently decided to pursue a different approach … and the approach that had existed through their lawyer before was very combative.” “its not as adversarial and i seems like there’s an appetite for a deal instead of just pounding.” county commissioner david stout also senses a change in tone. “the movement has been positive and we have to recognize that.” “according to court documents filed friday morning, the judge will allow umc to argue why it should be allowed to present its plan to get children’s out of bankruptcy … as per bankruptcy law, the plan presented by children’s should be vetted for two months before anyone else presents a plan …” “if it doesn’t work out … i we don’t reach a settlement agreement on monday, its not because we didn’t try everything.” “what if there is no agreemen on monday?” “we go back to battling it ou in the courtroom.” commissioners and the u-m-c board of managers are scheduled to meet early monday morning. children’s had a rent payment due yesterday of more than two million dollars. umc officials confirm they didn’t get it and children’s officials told us that’s due to ongoing negotiations. we also learned today the negotiations have also put a hold on appointing new members to the children’s hospital board. rick and estela. the summer of 20-15 is officially over … and the cool