GILLETTE (WNE) — The Campbell County Health Board of Trustees awarded a bonus to CEO Colleen Heeter, who recently completed her first year at the top of the organization.

At the hospital board meeting last week, trustees awarded Heeter a bonus of $62,635 for her inaugural year as CEO. Heeter’s base salary is $450,000, with the potential to earn up to $80,000 in bonuses each year, at the board’s discretion.

Chairman Adrian Gerrits said the bonuses are mostly data driven, with set benchmarks based on the organization’s annual strategic plan. Gerrits was part of the committee that determined her bonus, along with trustees Randy Hite and Alan Stuber.

Gerrits said the board will reassess its bonus structure next year and work with UCHealth to “sort of mimic” the Colorado-based affiliate’s CEO bonus formula.

“This is always a contentious number because the amount we pay our CEO is a lot for our community,” Gerrits said.

He added that the number of people CCH employs and the budget it oversees makes it a unique organization and an important job in the community.

“This is always kind of a tough pill for our community to swallow but I think it’s important that they know that we do our due diligence and we keep it in market and we have to attract CEOs that are good at running hospitals,” Gerrits said. “It’s a tough one for all of us to swallow, too.”