Panel Urges Infusion For Health Board Commissioners’ Takeover Idea Panned Again

Expand the Spokane County Health Board and keep the city as a major player, advises a committee appointed to study a political hot potato.

It is the second time the same committee has considered the future of the health district at the request of county commissioners, who may turn the agency into a county department.

Members of the Spokane City Council vehemently oppose the county takeover. It would put commissioners in charge of decisions now made by a panel that includes the commissioners, three council members and two small town representatives.

Health district employees who have spoken publicly about the takeover also oppose it, as does Commissioner John Roskelley.

In June, the committee recommended against a county-run health district, saying commissioners would be perceived as soft on environmental regulations.

Instead of immediately taking that advice, commissioners asked the committee to consider whether the health board should be restructured. The takeover will happen Jan. 1 unless commissioners vote to drop the idea.

According to three committee members, a report not yet delivered to commissioners suggests adding three new seats to the health board. They would be reserved for people who live outside the city limits, possibly medical professionals.

“It was by unanimous decision,” said Ronald Schurra, chief administrative officer for Holy Family Hospital.

Committee chairman Frank Conklin said the report isn’t final until it has been signed by all committee members. Only two or three had signed as of Tuesday night, he said.

It is not clear whether the committee’s recommendation will end talk of the takeover supported by Commissioners Phil Harris and Steve Hasson. Harris would not say Tuesday how he would vote on the matter.

“I do not have a burning desire to have a health department, but I do have a burning desire to have average citizens represented on that board,” said Harris, who in June told committee members that the best way to “depoliticize” the health board would be to remove council members from it.

Clouding the issue is last month’s retirement of health district chief John Beare. Whoever controls the agency will pick the new chief, a position that sets the agenda for the district.

, DataTimes