HOSPITAL: Three for board

Things seem sick at our local Kootenai County hospital.

Being concerned about the premature appointments of Hospital Trustees by the Kootenai hospital board, as it was an obvious political move prior to May 18 elections, I made inquiries to the administration. I wanted to know how this could have happened without public comment. What I found was disturbing.

It is not possible to address the Board on items on that night’s agenda even if it involves a vote. The Board has devised a “Catch Twenty-Two.” The Board must receive a written request seven days before the meeting. The catch: The agenda is not made public until the Friday before the Monday meeting. This blocked public comment on the unexpected appointments. To make you feel better, comments are possible at the meeting following the vote.

Transparency of the Board is pathetic. There are no notices of agendas in the paper, and only until very recently is the agenda online instead of tacked on a door. Not surprising is that minutes are not online and must be requested.

By not having minutes readily available and requests having to be written, they can run out the legal response time. Plus, there are no public request forms for sought information. Oh, I forgot to mention financial information is not online. I know a person who is still waiting for requested records for over the 10-day requirement.

On the May 18 election. Please vote for Steven Matheson, Chris Nordstrom and Duke Johnson for positive change.

ANN SEDDON

Coeur d’Alene