Five candidates file for seat on hospital board in Perry County

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Five people have filed to run for one open position on the Perry County Memorial Hospital board.

Incumbent Beth Guth has filed to retain her seat for her third five-year term. She works for the Bank of Missouri as a human resources director. Her challengers include Jo Jo Stuart, Ali Dibooglu, Larry J. Thieret and Direk L. Hunt. Thieret is also running for school board. All the candidates list Perryville addresses.

The hospital is about to undergo a multimillion-dollar expansion later this year, according to Jessica Krauss, the hospital's marketing director. A specific figure for the work is not available, she said, because the bidding process is incomplete.

The 25-bed hospital opened in 1951 and employs about 350 people, she said.

Two boards oversee hospital operations; each has five members who serve without pay. One board is private and is responsible for hospital operations, such as services, leadership and personnel. The public board — which has a seat on Tuesday's ballot — takes care of the hospital building and grounds, Krauss said. Two members of the public board also sit on the private board. All board members represent the entire county.

Members of the private board are Todd Petzoldt, Carol Ochs, Donald Hemmann, Beth Guth and William Wingerter Sr. Guth and Wingerter also serve on the public board with Steve Rozier, Tim Brewer and Anna Zoellner. Guth is running to retain her public board seat; Wingerter's term ends in 2010.

The renovation plans include replacing the hospital's inpatient care and surgical units. Krauss said the work would include building a new facility and tearing down the old one. The work will convert all patient rooms to private.

"It's the largest construction project since the hospital was built," Krauss said. The project goes out for bid this month.

Perry County Clerk Randy Taylor said it was unusual for so many people to file for an elected position that is unpaid.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

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Pertinent addresses:

321 N. Main St., Perryville, MO

434 N. West Street, Perryville, MO

1100 Big Spring Blvd., Perryville, Mo.

1208 Dorothy Drive, Perryville, Mo.

1400 Old St. Marys Rd., Perryville, Mo.

664 Perry County Road 318, Perryville, Mo,

1112 Crestview Lane, Perryville, Mo.