Last week, The Emporia Gazette filed a complaint with the Lyon County Attorneys Office about the Flint Hills Community Health Center closing its meetings to the public and possibly breaking the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
On Thursday, The Gazette published a story discussing the issue with Lyon County commissioners and what appeared to be their uneasiness about the situation.
Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman is currently investigating and will eventually make a decision on the complaint. We do know Goodman has looked into the matter when the health center brought the issue of closing meetings forward. It would not be a surprise if Goodman came back and said the meetings can be closed due to some maneuvering in the 2014 contract that would exempt the center from public meetings.
The Flint Hills Community Health Center may have the right to close its meetings to the public, but that doesnt mean it is the right thing to do.
Lyon County Commissioners give the Flint Hills Community Health Center almost half a million dollars of taxpayer money a year with virtually no checks and balances. The only real check and balance was the public meeting they held.
Lyon County Commissioners have a fiduciary responsibility to protect taxpayers and taxpayer money which they dispense for goods and services.
If the health center is unwilling to re-open board meetings and comply with Kansas Open Meeting laws which is in the best interest of taxpayers and the community then Lyon County commissioners need to protect taxpayers and move to cancel their contract with the Flint Hills Community Health Center. They could then move services back under the county or put it out to a public bid to an entity that will allow transparency.
The current contract does allow for contract modifications and, in light of the current situation, Lyon County Commissioners would be well served to enact changes to allow more transparency and accountability. The 2012 contract had a line item stating the Flint Hills Community Health Center would comply with Kansas Open Meetings laws, and we would suggest that commissioners add that back into the contract as a stipulation to receive taxpayer money.
Things appear to be in disarray at the Flint Hills Community Health Center and alarms should be sounding for Lyon County Commissioners. A real indicator for commissioners should have been when they were educated their presence wasnt needed at board meetings anymore. Lyon County Commissioner Dan Slater said he did not feel right about being discouraged from attending the meetings, and rightfully so.
We cant imagine what the Flint Hills Community Health Center is trying to hide that it doesnt even want someone partially responsible for $450,000 a year in funding to hear or be involved with its board.
The community is lacking trust in the Flint Hills Community Health Center, and being transparent is a way to slowly build some trust back.
If the Flint Hills Community Health Center wants to keep its doors locked to public meetings, then Lyon County Commissioners need to find another organization that can fulfill the community services with transparency and accountability to taxpayers.
The Emporia Gazette
Things appear to be in disarray … and alarms should be sounding for Lyon County Commissioners. A real indicator for commissioners should have been when they were educated their presence wasnt needed at board meetings anymore.
