MOHAVE COUNTY — After several months of having no meetings due to not having a quorum, the Hospital District Number One of Mohave County (HDOMC) began meeting again on July 1, 2025. At that meeting the Board accepted the resignations of Katherine Furtado, recording secretary, Penny Holden, past chairman and board member, Daniel Valentine.
On January 13, 2026 the Board appointed Teresa Boegler and Logan Marsh to fill those two vacancies on the Board. At the February 10, 2026 meeting, the Board accepted the resignation of David French, leaving one seat vacant.
At its regular meeting on March 10, 2026, three applicants, Stephen Pebley, Jeffrey Ryder and Leanne Hoagland Smith were interviewed in open session. After an executive session recess to discuss the applications for appointment to the vacant seat, the Board reconvened, asked more questions and then cast secret ballots. Leanne Hoagland Smith received the most votes and was appointed to fill French’s unexpired three-year term.
For the first time in decades, the present board is made up of all new faces as opposed to being made up of prior members and members who revolved between the district board and the KHI board.
The Board heard a presentation by the Tilly Baker accounting firm regarding the audit results.
Discussion ensued regarding the upcoming November election when Boegler and Marsh will be on the ballot. The board will monitor the situation with the Mohave County Elections Department. If those two are the only interested candidates, the board can then cancel the election and save approximately $50,000, and then reappoint them to the Board.
Margie Hoff, a potential new recording secretary, was interviewed and approved to work with Billy Neal to determine if she would be a good fit and whether she would be interested in the job. Neal is a hospital employee who has been performing the duties in the interim.
Dr. Carol Newmyer had questions about a check that was drafted to attorney Tom Price which only had one signature. She stated that the board policy is that all checks must be signed by two board members. The check was signed solely by French and subsequently cashed by Price. The check was for valid services performed by Price. Discussion followed as to how to handle the situation in the future.
The board then had a lengthy discussion regarding board training on the Arizona Open Meeting Law and insurance matters. Dr. Newmyer and Logan Marsh were tasked with researching entities that will provide the training. Newmyer stated her preference would be an in-person presentation.
Further discussion ensued regarding bylaws changes and a re-negotiation of the Lease with the hospital. Marsh is the designated board member to work KHI and Kingman Regional Medical Center (KRMC) and requested board approval to continue.
“This was basically just an update,” stated Marsh. “I was tasked with meeting with Heath (Evans, KHI/KRMC CEO), and discussion of our lease and what we’re going to do moving forward.
“I don’t believe we need to really vote on anything other than my continuation to work on this. But I met with Heath. I believe that we’re in an agreement that a single rewrite of the lease, removing all prior amendments and reviewing the lease and rewriting it to a single document that won’t require amendments in the future that gives us the flexibility to make the changes financially moving forward is the best option, while keeping options open for both bond and taxation.
“We’re expecting a draft of the proposed lease that KRMC is putting together within the next 30 to 60 days for us to review.”
The board voted to allow him to continue and added Chairman, Katie Tacheron to also work with them on the negotiations.
