Swanson leaves Gritman board

July 04--B.J. Swanson resigned from the board of Gritman Medical Center in Moscow on Monday following a dispute about the hospital's business with its board chairman and members of his family.

Swanson, former board chairwoman, raised questions about why the $118,000-a-year contract the firm of board chairman Greg Kimberling has to insure Gritman buildings and their contents against property damage hasn't been put out to bid since it originated in 2010.

She also wondered about how change orders are being reviewed on a multimillion-dollar medical office building being constructed by Sprenger Construction, a company owned by Kimberling's sister, Linda Sprenger.

The change orders ran about $23,759 per month under Swanson's leadership and have been averaging about $19,333 per month since Kimberling became chairman.

"Numerous key professional people have left or were ousted, particularly those who questioned the lucrative, no-bid contracts for insurance and construction awarded to current board chair Greg Kimberling and his family," Swanson wrote in her letter of resignation.

"I cannot continue to be associated with the reckless, self-serving environment of the current Gritman board and administration."

Swanson declined to comment beyond her letter. Attempts by the Tribune to reach Sprenger and Kimberling on Monday were not successful.

Swanson served as board chairwoman for 15 years before Kimberling replaced her in May 2016. She will no longer be on the hospital's 10-member board, its 40-person general membership, foundation or auxiliary.

Her action pre-empted a closed July 12 special meeting of the hospital's general membership. That gathering was called by that group to vote on the removal of Swanson from the 10-member board and 40-person general membership, said Gritman CEO Kara Besst.

The meeting will proceed with the hospital's legal team explaining how the hospital has followed its bylaws and laws governing not-for-profits in awarding contracts, Besst said.

"There's a lot of information out there that needs to be clarified," she said. "We want to make sure we are transparent with the general membership."

The departures of Gritman employees who Swanson referenced involve resignations for a variety of reasons unrelated to oversight of contracts involving Kimberling or Sprenger Construction, said Besst, noting the details are confidential personnel matters.

What Swanson describes as an "invalid election" that resulted in the removal of board member Greg Mann, was a process where Gritman followed its bylaws, Besst said.

Much of what happens next isn't clear. No time frame has been set to replace Swanson and the hospital will consult its bylaws before seeking applicants, according to Besst.

No choice has been made about whether a meeting will be held to answer questions the public might have about the board conflict, Besst said.

As an independent, private, not-for-profit facility, Gritman's bylaws only require one public meeting a year, which typically has been the general membership meeting in May.

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Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.

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