Eiden resigns from Rural Health Care Board
Board responsible for local clinics, medical staff and EMS
June 7, 2007
Garry Eiden has announced his resignation from the Sublette County Rural Health Board.
Eiden, from Marbleton, wrote a Letter to the Editor which appeared in the June 7 edition of the Sublette Examiner and Pinedale Roundup local newspapers.
In his letter, he thanked the voters and citizens who have supported him and said he regretted that the time has come for him to give up serving on the Board. He praised the medical professionals at both ends of the county, as well as the EMT staff, and agreed that more medical staff is still needed.
He criticized the Board saying, "I have never served on a board that has been such a mess, not just caused by the present board but it started with the past board.” He said the board has conducted professional business in executive sessions “that no one knows about the end result or why things were done as they were."
He took issue with the Healthcare Coalition and said he has "never seen a group like the coalition group that has so many problems with the board’s decisions." He wrote, "After all, the board was voted in by a majority of the voters to do what they think is right."
The Healthcare Coalition is a semi-organized group of local citizens concerned with health care in the county. Members regularly attend the Health Care Board meetings and provide input during the public comment periods. Eiden cited the numerous public positions he has held over the years in the county and said he "…never saw any group of people act like such crybabies as this coalition group." Eiden wrote that he felt the coalition group does not have all the facts, "and go on thinking they know it all." He did not explain the apparent contradiction with his earlier comment acknowledging the board has conducted business in executive sessions which the public is unaware of their decisions.
Eiden spoke directly to the Board’s decision to not continue the contract with Pinedale doctor Judy Boyle by saying they held one meeting where 65 members of the public got up and addressed the Board. Three spoke on budget issues and 62 spoke with concerns about Dr. Boyle. "65 people is a small percentage of the total number of voters to be concerned about the Board’s decision," he wrote.
Eiden ended his letter recommending "hiring Dick Kalber" to take his place on the Rural Health Care Board, asking the public to give him a chance, and again thanking his supporters. Eiden said his last day of service on the Rural Health Care Board was Tuesday, June 5, 2007.
Eiden is the second board member to leave the Rural Health Care Board in recent weeks. Board member Jud Faler resigned due to personal health issues. Kenneth Shriver was appointed by the Board to replace him. Other Rural Health Care Board members include Bill Budd, Walt Bousman, and Dave Racich. Under normal course, board members are elected by the voters to their positions. In the case of a resignation or vacancy, the Board appoints a new member. The Board has 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
Related Links:
"Eiden gives up RHCB Seat" - Story by Julia Stuble (Pinedale Roundup, 6/7/07)
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