Rob Koch of Holyrood was appointed to the Ellsworth County Medical Center board of directors during the Dec. 27 meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners.

Koch succeeds Karen Pauley, who resigned her board seat several months ago.

In other business:

• ECMC Chief Executive Officer Jim Kirkbride said the hospital received a letter of appreciation for the cardiac rehab unit. Cardiac rehabilitation therapy allows patients to recover from major surgery.

Commissioner Greg Bender asked Kirkbride if the Wellness Center is going to re-open to the public, as county employees would like to start using the wellness center again. Kirkbride said he would send something to the county clerk’s office by the end of the day.

• Director of the County Emergency Medical Service Nathan Florian received permission to apply for the EIG grant to help three people become EMTs.

Florian also asked commissioners to pay him to take a leadership class. A motion was approved to use the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency fund to pay Florian $4,100 to take the Certified Public Manager class.

• Approval was given to pay the Kansas Association of Counties’ invoice in the amount of $2,292.66.

• Approval was given to pay annual membership dues to the North Central Regional Planning Commission in the amount of $3,500.