Commission names three to Southwest Medical Center board after applicant presentations

The Seward County Commission appointed Stacy Cope, Joe Denoyer and Dennis Sanders to the Southwest Medical Center Board of Trustees to fill three vacancies effective April 1, 2026. Commissioners voted by ballot and the clerk reported the three appointees with Dennis Sanders assigned the three-year term; the Chair announced the motion carried (reported as 4-0-1 in the record, then confirmed as four in favor, one absent/abstention in roll call language).

Applicants outlined priorities during their brief presentations. Stacy Cope emphasized finance oversight, saying she "sat on the finance committee" and wants to help turn the hospital's bottom line around. Joe Denoyer cited reductions in expensive traveler staffing and said the board was hiring locally and addressing billing problems. Dennis Sanders discussed the board's strategic plan and committee structure. Applicant Jose Lara told the commission he had previously served on the board and urged more local control over billing, saying earlier outsourcing to a private billing firm led to collection difficulties for community members and noting that 'two attorney general's opinions have been issued' involving the hospital board; he urged compliance with the AG opinion that budgets be submitted for county review and approval.