Records from recent Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center’s board meetings reflect a rapidly changing organization.
In response to a Register request, board attorney Jacob Bielenberg of the Fisher, Patterson, Sayler & Smith law firm provided minutes from the board’s ordinary and special meetings from January to March 2026.
Meeting minutes for the board’s April meeting have not been reviewed by the Register, though Bielenberg confirmed he would make them available.
THE JANUARY 26 board meeting was especially eventful. In a meeting that lasted over three hours, board member Richard Zahn moved to freeze the organization’s 401(a) plan through September 30, 2026.
A 401(a) plan is a retirement plan provided by the government or a nonprofit and often features matching employer contributions. Allen County commissioner John Brocker seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. It was Brocker’s first board meeting; he was replaced by David Lee, also a county commissioner, on March 17.
In the same meeting, as previously reported, board member and Linn County commissioner Jim Johnson moved to suspend CEO Nathan Fawson for 90 days with pay. Mike Blaufuss, who is an Anderson County commissioner, seconded the motion, and it passed. Doug Wright was later appointed interim CEO.
Fawson’s 90-day suspension technically ends April 27. When asked to provide an update on Fawson’s status, Bielenberg did not respond.
Lastly, board member Nicholas Galemore, a Neosho County commissioner, moved to “eliminate primary care services from SEKMHC with notification effective immediately.” That motion also passed unanimously.
ON FEBRUARY 11, the SEKMHC board unanimously approved the sale of Yates Center Dental for $375,000. Bielenberg informed the Register that Crossroad Commercial Management, LLC purchased the dental practice. When asked to provide additional information for the buyer, Bielenberg did not respond.
The February 11 board meeting was the first for Amber Morrison, named interim Chief Financial Officer after CFO Job Springer was placed on paid leave. No board member has confirmed the date of Springer’s suspension.
AT THE February 20 annual board meeting, minutes state interim CEO Doug Wright “completed a walk-through of Ashley Clinic with representatives from Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center” on Feb. 16. An appraisal was reported to be scheduled for Feb. 26.
A Feb. 4 press release stated that SEKMHC and Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center were “working together to explore options to preserve access to local healthcare services.”
The board’s March 2 meeting lasted a total of 8 minutes, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and ending at 6:40 p.m. The board authorized Doug Wright, Amber Morrison and Dana Spencer to be designated as authorized signers for the nonprofit. Members also voted unanimously to remove all other previously authorized signers, effective immediately.
A special meeting on March 17 saw Dana Spencer, board vice chair, introduce David Lee as the board’s newest member.
That meeting began via Zoom at 6:30 p.m. Executive session began at 6:32 p.m. and was extended until 7:45 p.m., when open session resumed. The meeting was adjourned 11 minutes later, at 7:56 p.m.
None of the meeting minutes reviewed by the Register provides information on the termination of 23 staff members and salary cuts for staff and officers, announced in an April 2 press release and previously reported.
