Staff writer
Despite discussion of expanding voting for St. Luke Hospital directors, this year’s voting process will remain the same —just before the annual meeting.
A year ago, with community outcry over the hospital’s operation of a federal drug program in partnership with local pharmacies, 140 people crowded into a room in the basement of St. Luke Clinic to vote on who would be seated on the board of directors.
At this year’s annual hospital board meeting May 28, the number of voters could be as few as what chief executive officer Alex Haines said was typical: three.
A year ago, former county commissioner Dan Holub was elected to the board. He said at that time that he wanted the election process made friendlier to voters who live in the hospital district.
Board members discussed how to accomplish that in March and April, but Holub’s notion to change procedures failed for lack of a second. Board members apparently thought a bigger overhaul of board operation was needed and voted unanimously to change its code of conduct to prohibit electioneering.
Hospital board members are elected for three-year terms.
Holub had said during the March meeting there were options to have board elections managed by the county.
Holub also suggested having elections open the entire day instead of just before the meetings.
“The thought was to provide some flexibility,” Haines said. “I think everyone would like more engagement.”
Haines said the board would discuss the entire election process further, but the procedures would not change this year.
The annual meeting will be at 5 p.m. May 28 in the clinic basement. People interested in running are being directed to call the hospital at (620) 382-2177.