CCHS Board Elects Officers

DAYTON-January has been a busy month for the commissioners of the Columbia County Hospital District, as they settle in to 2016.

On Jan. 14, a swearing-in ceremony was held in the hospital cafeteria for Ken Dyball, who replaces Jim Kime on the board, and for Wes Leid, who replaces Lisa Naylor.

Also in January, a special meeting of the hospital commissioners was held on Jan. 21 for the purpose of electing officers for 2016.

New board members Bob Hutchens and Ken Dyball were elected, respectively, for the positions of president and vice-president of the commission, and Commissioner Colleen Sproul was elected to retain her position as Secretary for another year.

Building relationships was the topic of discussion for the commissioners at that meeting, where they spoke about the need to acquire greater visibility in the community, as well as the value in building better relationships between board members and the public, and board members and hospital employees.

Commissioner Wes Leid said, "People need to know we will take care of them. Right now we don't have the support of the people. We have to do better."

Commissioner Ken Dyball agreed. "We need a change of mind, and attitude," he said. "We are responsible to the people. We need to be more involved with the staff," he added.

Commission Secretary Sproul reminded the board members that there are limitations as to how much the board can be involved in day-to-day hospital operations.

Commissioner Jack Otterson agreed with her, and talked about courses available to the commissioners that define the role for hospital board commissioners.

"We aren't 100% in control," said Sproul. "We can do things to make a better board, and a better hospital."