January 6, 2021

HERINGTON HOSPITAL HAS PROBLEMS

HELLO. My name is Robert Danzman. I am 82 years old and live on a fixed income. I have lived in Herington for the last 4 years and I am proud to call it home. Rumors and gossip floating around about the Herington Municipal Hospital (HMH) prompted me to do some research. What I learned makes me believe the HMH administration has engaged in some activities that are bad for Herington and HMH and may be illegal. I am writing asking you to call or email members of our Herington City Commission (Commission) to demand they stop those activities. And protect our tax dollars that were spent and are being spent by HMH to build and operate a medical clinic in Hillsboro without Hillsboro contributing any tax dollars. Our tax dollars should not be used to support a medical clinic in Hillsboro. Especially if it is against Kansas law. 

The Commission meetings on December 11th,  15th and 29th made clear that over the past several months, HMH has illegally used Herington tax dollars to purchase and renovate three buildings in  Hillsboro for the “Hillsboro Healthcare Clinic”. Hillsboro already has a NEW state-of-the-art hospital that provides medical services to Hillsboro residents and does not need a second medical clinic. Especially one paid for by Herington tax dollars.

HMH spent and is spending our tax dollars in Hillsboro without any approval from the Commission. Even though prior approval by the Commission is required under Kansas law. Both the HMH attorney and Herington attorney admit that HMH is violating Kansas law by operating the Hillsboro Healthcare Clinic. This is not even disputed. HMH has never given the Commission any information about the funds already spent or being spent to establish and operate a clinic in Hillsboro. Or that expanding into Hillsboro is financially justified in the first place. Or why HMH gave $100,000 to Hillsboro for a splash pad. In fact, the Commission says that HMH never even advised that it was expanding to Hillsboro and the Commission had no knowledge about the Hillsboro operation until recently.

I understand Herington needs a hospital. I want HMH to succeed and thrive. I believe the unauthorized expansions, using Herington tax dollars, are detrimental to HMH’s long-term viability. HMH’s expansion to Hillsboro has added to HMH’s financial loss and has not been transparent. HMH’s leadership has failed as stewards of our tax dollars. The Commission must protect us. Please call or email the Commissioners to demand they:

1. Pass a binding resolution that requires HMH to immediately stop any on-going construction, build out, expansion or operation in Hillsboro, along with any other questionable activity by HMH, until the Hillsboro operation is proven to be feasible, legal and in the best interests of the Herington taxpaying public;

2. Order a third-party audit of HMH to provide the Commission with a complete and objective financial picture of HMH and the Hillsboro Healthcare Clinic. Including how our tax dollars are being spent, and whether the operation in Hillsboro is justified or should be abandoned to cut any further losses of our Herington tax dollars.

More info online at http://theheringtonimprovementassociation.org. 
Also, you can watch the applicable Commission meetings online at:

Date: January 4, 2021

herington.info@gmail.com
785-268-3218

Herington City Commission Members:
Robbin Bell: (785) 366-6422 and robbin@cityofherington.com
Ben Castleberry: (785) 258-2271 and ben@cityofherington.com
Curtis Hartman: (620) 874-5152 and curtis@cityofherington.com
Debra Urbanek: (785) 341-2702 and debi@cityofherington.com
Vance Donahue II: (785) 258-2271 and vance@cityofherington.com