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Commission debates resolution on Shawnee Hospital Authority whistleblower complaint but takes no action
Summary
City staff recited that a whistleblower complaint concerning the Shawnee Hospital Authority was received Oct. 5 and referred to the district attorney on Oct. 6; commissioners debated whether the city should adopt a resolution supporting a DA probe and requesting a forensic audit but made no motion.
The Shawnee City Commission discussed a staff-drafted resolution acknowledging receipt of a whistleblower complaint alleging financial misconduct at the Shawnee Hospital Authority and expressing support for the district attorney’s investigation and a potential forensic audit. City Attorney Joe Waddner told the commission the city received the whistleblower complaint on Oct. 5 and referred it to the district attorney’s office on Oct. 6, and he confirmed the DA has an ongoing investigation.
"To be clear, the resolution is not an allegation of wrongdoing. It is not a finding under the investigation," Waddner said, adding the city was deferring to the district attorney’s statutory authority. Commissioners raised procedural and reputational concerns about passing a resolution while an investigation is pending; one commissioner noted staff had found no prior example in the city's records of passing a resolution about an ongoing investigation.
Several commissioners questioned whether the resolution would change the DA's existing authority or the investigation’s course, and some warned of potential reputational harm if allegations were unproven. After discussion, the commission took no motion or vote on the resolution.
Next steps: The matter remains with the district attorney’s office; city staff said they have no additional updates to provide while the DA investigates.
