Eureka Springs Hospital concerns topped the list of discussion at the May 13 city council meeting. All aldermen were present, and added to the agenda were concerns brought up by alderman Harry Meyer, and a proposed hospital ordinance and proposed anti-lawsuit ordinance introduced by alderman Steve Holifield. Mayor Butch Berry also added a legal workshop with interim City Attorney Justin Eichmann.
ESH Maintenance Director Becky Burt, an employee of more than 15 years, says she was fired “unjustly, under made-up accusations,” in January 2025. She said that following her termination, she decided to retire, but said she had difficulty completing paperwork for social security and Medicare because ESH CFO Jodi Edmonson either ignored or refused to sign the paperwork.
Burt encountered similar issues while attempting to move her financial assets from the city-used firm for retirement investment to her Edward Jones account. “To have someone I don’t trust to be able to have enough control to delay financial transactions with other people’s money is ludicrous,” Burt said. “Jodi should not have anything to do with anyone’s finances, especially those that she seems to have a vendetta against.”
Alderman Harry Meyer reporting a billing problem he encountered with ESH, saying he had received vaccines for hepatitis and tetanus because of his frequent visits to the sewage treatment plant and was billed $125 from ESH for one of those vaccines.
Meyer said was told by Medicare that his vaccines should have been covered, but the hospital still said he owed the money and turned him over to collections. Meyer underscored dysfunction in the hospital’s Medicare billing system. He then moved to remove commission chair Sandy Martin. That motion died but aldermen made a request for discussion.
Mayor Butch Berry said he wanted to look into the matters regarding Meyer’s experience and suggested that council was teetering on micromanagement of the hospital. Berry encouraged aldermen to wait until the imminent hospital meeting to have their questions answered.
Aldermen pressed Berry for clarification, asking if they were able to continue discussion of hospital concerns, particularly surrounding budget. Berry deferred to interim City Attorney Justin Eichmann, who spoke to council about the “loaded language” of the legal term “for cause,” referring to the termination of commissioners and nuances of law.
Alderman Rachael Moyer stated, “This body feels a responsibility to do whatever is in our power to help the situation. The two primary concerns are one, the hospital is not functioning properly, so much so that local physicians won’t refer their business. And two, that they’re acting outside of their own budget.”
It was pointed out that the hospital commission meeting date has yet to be set. “Time is of the essence,” alderman Terry McClung said. “ASAP is really not a very good answer. People need to be addressing the commission with all these things that are being brought to us… that commission should be wanting to get that input.”
Public Works Updates
Director Simon Wiley said that since the last council meeting, Public Works has
- Cleared sewer blockages from several locations.
- Purchased a new camera system for mapping out water and sewer lines to help identify problems and devise solutions.
- Appointed a new staff member to concentrate “100% on streets.” Work will begin soon repainting stripes, etc.
Wiley welcomed the public to call his office to report issues, saying, “it takes a village,” after which Meyer gave a shout out to Wiley and his crew, saying that the sewage plant is “so much cleaner” than before.
Final considerations
- Holifield proposed an ordinance to require the hospital commission to present regular reports to city council, as other commissions do. A motion to establish an ordinance requiring submitted quarterly financial reports was unanimously approved.
- Holifield said there have been many wrongful termination suits, etc., brought against the city. He suggested creating an ordinance wherein commissioners across the board would have to confer with city council before terminating employees. Moyer advocated to provide educational training for commissioners to help them understand their role. Alderman Susane Gruning rationalized the potential benefits, explaining that if you provide the training, it shows you have invested in preventing bad behavior. Otherwise, she said, “We’re complicit.”
- Eichmann gave a legal workshop to alderman explaining the subtle variations and risks involved when determining administrative vs. legislative action.
- Commission renewals were made for David Carlisle of the Hospital Commission, and Kolin Paulk for the City Advertising and Promotion Commission, and Scott Price was approved to sit on the Planning Commission. Berry announced vacancies on HDC, CAPC, and Hospital Commission.