Seven candidates are running for four open positions on the Powell Hospital District board and at least three will be new faces to hospital leadership as only one incumbent is running. 

R.J. Kost is running for a fourth term alongside a host of challengers, including Tracy Morris, Joni Bennett, Scott McKenzie, Shelley Hill, Karen Elton and Melinda Shopa. 

Christopher Cox, who took over a seat earlier in the year, is running unopposed for the remaining two years of a separate unexpired seat.

Joni Bennett

1. Why did you decide to run for the board?

I was an employee of the hospital and I enjoyed my co-workers and my job. I want to be able to give back to them and to help our community. I have lived in Park County since 2009. Both of my girls graduated from Powell High School and are planning on going into the nursing field. My husband is an electrician and local business owner, he has lived in the Basin most of his life. Both of us are constantly discussing ideas on how to make our town better and add value to the community.

2. What issues are you most interested in working on?

Our nurses and physicians are getting tired from the last two years of Covid. The hospital needs more employees to help relieve the stress that our health care workers have been under. I want to help Powell Valley Healthcare get the employees it needs not only to give reprieve to our workers but to also help with providing the patients the best care in the Basin. 

Billing has been a huge issue. The hospital needs the payments for services however the patients also need to be billed properly. I want to be the voice of the employees and be able to help them by giving them the training they need. 

Our hospital has some of the best physicians, nurses, medical assistants, maintenance, cafeteria workers, etc. I want to be their voice about their concerns and listen to their ideas on how we can make our hospital better since they are the frontline workers. I care about our community and I want our patients to have the best care from when they walk in the doors to when they have questions on their bill. I want fiscal accountability. The board works for the employees, community and taxpayers. I want open communication. 

3. The current board is working to bring on a new CEO prior to the start of the new board session. Do you agree with this approach or, if you’re not already on the board, would you rather have more say in the choice?

 I think that the elected board members should be involved in this decision as they will be working together with the new CEO to continue to provide care for our community as well as employment. 

4. What in your background has prepared you for this position?

I have worked in the health care field for eight years. I have spent numerous hours in multiple parts of Powell Valley Healthcare. I have been in the financial offices, infusion center, ED department and helped out with case management. I have been involved with numerous aspects of the medical world which involves our community members from our newest ones to our elderly. With this involvement I have helped many patients navigate the brightest and darkest times of their lives. I have been an instrumental part of the medical team helping bridge the gaps between provider and patient.

Michele “Shelley” Hill

1. Why did you decide to run for the board?

I want to be more involved with the community. 

2. What issues are you most interested in working on?

I want the community to better understand what a blessing the hospital is to our town. We need a better plan of communication between the hospital administration and the people of this town who rely on their services.

3. The current board is working to bring on a new CEO prior to the start of the new board session. Do you agree with this approach or, if you’re not already on the board, would you rather have more say in the choice?

I think the new board should bring in the new CEO. I disagree with the outgoing board making the decision because the new board will be working closely with the new CEO and it should be their choice.

4. What in your background has prepared you for this position?

I was a school administrator for 10 years and am now a small business owner in town.

R.J. Kost

1. Why did you decide to run for the board? 

I have been on the board for almost 12 years and through some very difficult times. Now that those times are behind us it is time to work on our relationship with the community and doing what we can to help the hospital meet the needs of the community. Being a Critical Access Hospital means following specific guidelines and rules of care for those we serve. There are 16 Critical Access Hospitals in the state and each has to be very careful about what we can and can’t do because financially making the wrong decisions can jeopardize our hospital’s future.

2. What issues are you most interested in working on?

As I stated above one of the most important issues is continuing to build a better relationship with the community. By making sure everyone knows what we offer and can do is very important but also listening to the community to do our best to offer other needs the community is asking for as long as those needs do not financially put our hospital in budget trouble. There is a fine line with what we can do and what we can’t because of the cost.

3. The current board is working to bring on a new CEO prior to the start of the new board session. Do you agree with this approach or, if you’re not already on the board, would you rather have more say in the choice? 

I am currently on the board and when we go into the next year we lose some very important history with those we will not have with us. It is not that we do not want the new board to be part but because of the time we had to start the search it would mean prolonging the decision and working with a board that is not aware of the key role a CEO plays in the success of the hospital. The hope is that by the end of the first quarter the new CEO will be running the show. If we held off until the new board was in and has the training required for being a board member, we would not be able to start the search until, at the very earliest, the middle to the end of February. That would mean making a decision in May or June. At this time that is long after the need for the change. It does not mean the new board will not have any input because there is a lot to be completed. I don’t know when we will have things completed and if the first round of interviews do not bring us what we are looking for, the search will continue so this isn’t an attempt to do anything but follow the process and the policies of our hospital.

4. What in your background has prepared you for this position?

Being on the board for 12 years has well prepared me for this position. The very first year I was on the board I was one of only two coming onto the board totally new to the knowledge and information one needs to know to be an active board member. The board is very important to the success of the hospital and in the first year or even a little longer one is learning so much. With the long term care facility, the assisted living facility, the clinic, and the hospital, there are a lot of decisions which need to be made. The complexity of our health care system is so vital to the community and meeting community needs while financially understanding the impact of each decision makes the job a daunting task. Having served on many previous and current boards has also helped me better understand the role a board member must play and that coming in with an agenda is not as healthy for the success of the hospital as coming in to learn, to grow, and to make the best decisions for the hospital and the community. 

Tracy Morris

1. Why did you decide to run for the board? 

I am running for the hospital board because I care about our Powell Valley community and I’m actively involved showing integrity, compassion, and respect to the voters. Health care is vital to our community and keeping the mission of the hospital: caring for everyone and be the provider of choice is my goal when elected.

2. What issues are you most interested in working on? 

Supporting the growth of Powell but maintaining its small town charm means the continuation of health care in our community. Hiring a new CEO for our hospital is important since it’s the number one employment entity in Powell. We need to keep our hospital Powell’s first choice for our health care needs. Through professional and personal experiences, I have maintained great relationships with many residents and key stakeholders in Powell. I also have insight with local workforce and housing needs.

3. The current board is working to bring on a new CEO prior to the start of the new board session. Do you agree with this approach or, if you’re not already on the board, would you rather have more say in the choice? 

If voted onto the hospital board, it will be my civic duty to listen to Powell voters and find the best leadership for our hospital. 

4. What in your background has prepared you for this position? 

My background entails six years on the Powell School Board as a trustee and treasurer along with three years on the NWC BOCES board. I grew up in a family that were employed in various medical fields. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!

Scott McKenzie

1. Why did you decide to run for the board? 

I feel that one of the cornerstones of a great community is their health care system. As my tenure with Park Country School District 1 starts to come to a close, I would like to continue serving our amazing town in some manner. Serving on the hospital board is a way that I can continue to serve and represent Powell. 

2. What issues are you most interested in working on? 

I don’t have any issues to work on. I want to continue what the previous board has been working on and be a voice for all health care staff as well as for our community. 

3. The current board is working to bring on a new CEO prior to the start of the new board session. Do you agree with this approach or, if you’re not already on the board, would you rather have more say in the choice? 

I support this decision wholeheartedly. The current board has done a fantastic job in working with our current CEO, and they know what type of leader is needed to continue the journey for our health care system to be the best that it can be. 

4. What in your background has prepared you for this position? 

I have 33 years of experience through Park County School District 1 as an employee and leader. I started here with great mentors of whom I learned from and would like to think that I am finishing as a mentor to some of our staff. I have been a teacher, coach, department chair, instructional facilitator, dean of students, and activities director during my time here in Powell. I have been blessed to be a leader in both our school system and community, and I have worked within the boundaries of following a budget. I have served on many educational committees in the state as a representative for PCSD1. I feel that I am a problem solver and can think outside the box if the answer is not glaring at you. I think I’ve checked a lot of boxes for what folks may be looking for in a hospital board member.

Karen Elton and Melinda Shopa did not respond to requests for comment.