Despite bylaws on timing, election set for May 30 meeting

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A rival slate of director candidates is expected when the Hospital District No. 1 board of directors meets 5 p.m. May 30.

Although hospital bylaws designate monthly meetings being held “the fourth Tuesday of the month,” that is the fifth Tuesday.

The terms of board members Linda Carlson, Suzanne Robinson, and Roger Hannaford will expire this month. All are running for another term, hospital public information officer Denise Crabb said Tuesday.

Former county commissioner Dan Holub, Rose Davidson, and Gene Winkler, who resigned from the board in late April but soon afterward announced he wanted to rescind his resignation, also are running.

Others may declare candidacy in advance or at the meeting.

Winkler took his appeal to social media Tuesday.

“Last month at board meeting, Traci (Lanning) asked (board president) John Wheeler when (she) would hear back from the board, he said within a week. Well, it has been three weeks, and he has not got back to her. Just to let all you taxpayers of the district (know), annual board meeting is when three new people will be elected to the board. There are three people I know wanting those three seats. Gene Winkler, Dan Holub, and Rose Davidson. I believe all three want to have more transparency to the public.

“Several years ago, when I was on the board, every meeting there was a line item on the agenda for public comments, but then it was removed, and no one can talk to the board about anything.

“May 30 at 5 p.m. is the election. I ask all of you that are concerned about the way the board is being run to come to the meeting and make your voice(es) heard. Each one of you that live in the hospital district have a vote.

“Please help us get back on the right path. I ask that you take one hour of your life to help. Thank you.”

St. Luke executive officer Jeremy Ensey, whose salary over the last year was $176,705.89, abruptly resigned during the April board meeting. His announcement followed three half-hour executive sessions. Ensey gave three months’ notice.

The hospital has listed the opening on two job search websites.

The opening is posted on Simply Hired with its salary listed as $141,000 to $200,000 a year.

The same salary is listed on the job site Indeed.

The listings call the position “an exciting opportunity with a critical-access hospital in Marion, Kansas” and say candidates with leadership experience in a critical access hospital and health care and/or business degree “will make for quick interviews.”

Cindy Samuelson, spokeswoman for Kansas Hospital Association, said KHA had not been notified that the hospital was looking for an executive officer.

Usually, KHA is notified, Samuelson said.

State law allows hospital districts to vote to switch from electing directors at annual meetings to having elections as with school boards. The hospital board has not chosen to exercise this option.