GREEN RIVER - While rejecting a call for an independent inquiry into Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, the county commission discussed the possibility of expanding the current hospital board from its current five members to seven, nine or perhaps 11 members.

Commissioner Debby Dellai Boese suggested the move as a way to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the board. She said increasing trustee membership would " give us a greater mix" on the board.

"There's a lot of issues with the hospital right now … a larger board would give us ideas on how to address these issues and perhaps even resolve these issues," she said. "We do have an opportunity with this."

Commissioner Joe Oldfield said there was precedent for such an increase and noted the county Events Complex board recently went from five to seven members.

Oldfield said while the board is at it, the commission should also consider having hospital board members elected by voters - like local school boards - rather than be appointed by commissioners.

Commission Chairman Wally Johnson said he was "inclined" to expand the commission if the current board backed the move. But he noted attendance problems with other county boards and said he worried about impacts to the current board if new members are added.

"The (current) board has taken a tremendous amount of abuse in recent months … (expanding the board) could send the wrong message to those five people serving on the board," Johnson said.

He said an elected board may also not be viable. "They would have to campaign for the privilege to serve on the board … and I can't imagine anybody under these circumstances going through that procedure," Johnson said. "The issue is what do we really gain (by expanding the board) and is it worth it to Sweetwater County?"

Dellai Boese said any expansion shouldn't send a negative message to "dedicated" board members. "This really is our consideration … we don't want to send the message we're giving our power up," she said. "We appoint boards."