By Ray King
Legislation that would have extended the lease agreement between Jefferson County and Jefferson Regional Hospital that has been in existence since 1959 was tabled during a meeting of the Quorum Court Monday night.
Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll moved to table the ordinance, citing concerns over the agreement and complaining that some members of the Jefferson Regional Hospital Board of Governors, who are appointed by the County Judge, are also members of the board of the hospital.
The vote to table was seven against and six for and since when the legislation was presented to committees last week, it was not listed as a resolution, which would have required just a simple majority, or an ordinance, which would have required a two-thirds vote.
After the meeting, County Judge Gerald Robinson was asked what the concerns of some of the justices of the peace were and responded this way.
During a presentation to the hospital board of governors last week, hospital officials explained that they were entering into a joint venture to build and operate a specialty hospital for rehabilitation and behavioral health services in White Hall potential developers have asked for at least a 75-year lease on the property to make the development viable. The lease extension being sought would have expired Dec. 31, 2099.
The lease agreement will be brought back up in July.
Also Monday, the county’s legislative body approved legislation appropriating $200,000 to cover the costs of running elections through the end of the year. Election Commission Chairman Mike Adam said in in a letter that in addition to the June 21 runoff, there will be an Aug. 9 Watson Chapel School District election and the Nov. 8 general election.
He said the commission will send information to the state board of election commissioners for costs associated with the primary and runoff elections.
