Photo: Commissioners listen to the report from Nashville Attorney Angela Humphreys at Monday night’s Zoom call. Shannon McFarlin photo.
By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Negotiations continue between the Henry County Medical Center and West Tennessee Healthcare toward eventual takeover of operations of the local hospital.
Drafts of the proposed agreement are being exchanged between the parties and will continue to be right through the end of this month.
The Henry County Commission Monday evening continued a Zoom call with Nashville Attorney Angela Humphreys, who represents the county and hospital in the negotiations with West Tennessee Healthcare. Last night’s meeting was recessed and will continue at 5 p.m. Monday, July 29, with the hospital board meeting on July 25.
Humphreys noted the important points still being hashed out in the negotiations, including the current hospital contracts to be included and excluded in the final agreement. ”West Tennessee doesn’t have that list for us yet,” Humphreys said.
It is confirmed that West Tennessee will assume operations of the hospital’s surgery center lease, she said, “and we ask for your patience over the next few days” as the list of contracts to be covered continues being prepared.
Commissioner Monte Starks asked about the EMS property (behind the hospital). “Does it stay with the county?”, Starks asked. Humphreys said the county EMS “is an excluded asset” and its status needs to be addressed further.
In other business:
–During the citizen forum, Rev. Paul McDade asked whether the county “was going to give away the hospital for pennies on the dollar” in its negotiations with West Tennessee Healthcare.
–Upon recommendation of County Attorney Rob Whitfield, commissioners approved a settlement agreement with former Jailers at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. According to the resolution, employees James Carroll and Steven Harris were terminated and attempted to appeal their termination to the County’s Civil Service Board.
According to the resolution, a ‘legal controversy’ has arisen as to whether the employees are entitled to appeal by the Civil Service Board and a legal settlement has been tentatively reached to resolve the controversy. It was resolved that the county’s Finance Director is authorized to make payments of $5,000 per employee to each of the two former jailers as part of the agreement.
—The commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the sale of delinquent tax properties at a reduced price.