Three candidates for Ellsworth County appraiser were interviewed Monday morning in individual executive sessions by the Ellsworth County Commissioners, with current County Appraiser Carl Miller in attendance.

The candidates interviewed were Kristina Silva, Joseph Pennycuff and Lance Leis. The three executive sessions each lasted 30 minutes and were for non-elected personnel (for possible employment).

A decision on which candidate will replace Miller, who is retiring in November, is likely to be made at the Oct. 14 commission meeting.

In other business:

• Jerry Marsh, Ellsworth, once again addressed the commission on the need for the Ellsworth County Medical Center to have a public forum during their hospital board meetings.

“I have read all the reasons that Mr. ( Jim) Kirkbride (ECMC chief executive officer) and the board members offered in opposition to having a public forum at their meetings as reported in the Independent-Reporter,” Marsh said.

Marsh said he met with four board members individually on the topic, but has not met the newly- appointed board member. He has also meet with Kirkbride twice, all to no avail.

“I must conclude that their fear of being addressed by patrons in a public meeting is much greater than my poor power to persuade them that there is little or nothing to fear,” Marsh said. “Other hospital boards have a public forum and are glad to have patrons make use of it, and some do not have one. Obviously, the only way our hospital board’s adamant opposition may be overcome is if area residents make known their desire for a public forum.”

Marsh went on to say that the county commission, the city council and the board of education provide such an opportunity to their community, but the hospital board does not.

“That does not sound like transparency,” he said. “Rather, it sounds uncaring, regressive and disdainful.”

David Stonebraker, who served on the hospital board from 19992007, told the commissioners he doesn’t recall ever having any issues with people coming up.

“I think the fear of the hospital board, probably, is that they’ll bring a name up or a diagnosis or whatever about a person,” he said, “but the hospital board’s response could be just what your’s is — say nothing just like to board of education. They don’t have to respond. You can listen and move on with your agenda. I think their fear of getting trapped by a question is unwarranted, because they do not have to respond.”

“I would completely concur with your assessment,” Commissioner Shawn Thomas said.

“Having served on the board, I don’t see an issue,” Stonebraker said, “but, we run into a great fear of lawsuits and remarks and getting our name in the paper and so forth, which, I think if you serve as a member on the hospital board or the education (board), or like you guys, you know that is a possibility. You’ve all had your names in the paper, but you don’t have to in this response.”

• A request by Michelle Skurkis to donate $250 to the Prairie Scenic Byway to go towards new signage will be considered by the commissioners.

• After a 10-minute executive session with Nathan Florian, county EMS director, to discuss employee benefits, the commissioners approved extending 12 hours of additional bereavement leave to AEMT William Moore. Florian will also extend Moore an additional 12 hours.

• No action was taken after a 10-minute executive session with Miller to discuss non-elected personnel (possible employment).

• Approval was given to a contract with Professional Engineering Consultants for geotechnical services (core sampling, etc.) on Bridge 360 near Black Wolf at a cost of $8,400. The funds will be taken from the county’s special bridge fund.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County Commission will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 14, at the county courthouse.