LMH board OK with president residing in Johnson County

The leader of Lawrence Memorial Hospital – the nonprofit organization that runs an aggressive buy-local campaign – does not live in Douglas County anymore.

Gene Meyer, president and chief executive officer of LMH, confirmed on Thursday that he lives in the Cedar Creek subdivision between De Soto and Olathe in Johnson County.

The Journal-World received a complaint from its Sound Off line about Meyer’s residency following the recent announcement that he had been given a $100,000 raise by the hospital’s board of trustees.

Meyer said he moved nearly a year ago because his new wife works on the east side of Kansas City, Mo., which would have resulted in a two-hour round-trip commute had they lived in Lawrence.

“In a lot of ways, I dislike the Johnson County area, but from a location standpoint it is convenient for both of our lives,” Meyer said.

Meyer received permission from the hospital’s board of trustees to move from Lawrence, board chairman Lindy Eakin said. Meyer’s contract had a clause that required him to live in Lawrence, but Eakin said the board was comfortable with removing it and replacing it with a requirement that he live within 30 minutes driving distance of the hospital.

“We discussed it, and came to the conclusion that our concern is not where he sleeps at night, but what his role is in the community,” Eakin said.

Eakin said Meyer’s nine years as a Lawrence resident had demonstrated that he was active in the community and would remain so. Meyer previously served as chairman of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and Lawrence Rotary Club, along with serving on other boards.

“We told him we’re OK with it, but certainly don’t expect him to stop being involved in the community,” Eakin said.

But both Meyer and Eakin acknowledged that living outside the community – especially in Johnson County, an area that aggressively competes for Lawrence health care dollars – could create a perception problem.

“I think the perception will be there,” Meyer said. “I just try to tell people that I love Lawrence, love the convenience and accessibility of activities, love the retail and still very much participate in that.”

Eakin, though, said he didn’t think the issue would have any bearing on how Lawrence residents go about choosing a hospital for their health care needs.

“To me, I’ve never been a proponent that you ought to buy local just because it is local,” Eakin said. “I want people to come to LMH because we’re the best damn hospital.”

Since 1991, the city has had a policy that department heads, the city manager and the assistant city manager must live inside the city limits. Although LMH is owned by the city, Meyer does not fall under that policy because LMH is not considered a city department. The hospital is not under the control of any city executive, but instead is run by the board of trustees – which is appointed by the City Commission.

Debbie Van Saun, assistant city manager, said the city believes the residency requirement is a good policy for its employees.

“We see value in engagement in the community,” Van Saun said. “That engagement is accomplished by living in and participating in the activities of the community.”

Eakin said LMH hasn’t limited its ability to require employees under contract to live in Lawrence in the future. He said he suspects that if the board was hiring a new leader it would require the employee to live in Lawrence to demonstrate a commitment to the community.

“Gene has demonstrated that, though,” Eakin said.

Both Eakin and Meyer also dismissed speculation that Meyer’s move was a sign that he was looking to return to the Johnson County health care market. Before coming to LMH, Meyer was a senior executive for St. Luke’s South in Johnson County.

Eakin said Meyer’s contract had no-compete clauses that would prohibit him from working in the Johnson County health care market for several years. Meyer said he had no desire to do so.

“I am where I want to be,” Meyer said.