LA GRANGE — The Fayette County Commissioners Court convened on March 9 to hold its regularly scheduled meeting. The court issued a proclamation recognizing April 2023 as Autism Acceptance Month in Fayette County.
The courtroom was packed to hear about the future of St. Mark’s Hospital. At the request of the commissioner’s court, hospital the Community Hospital Corporation Board representatives Mark Kimball, Dudley Piland and Jim Kendrick were present. Fourteen local residents took turns expressing their concerns about the recent decisions that were made by the hospital board to shift from a full hospital to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH).
In response, it was stated that the facility will be operating as an REH. Prior to the discussion, Judge Dan Mueller pointed out that the county has no control over the hospital. After the discussion, Judge Mueller encouraged the people who control St. Mark’s to be more transparent in the future and to hold at least one public meeting to give the people an idea of what the future holds for the hospital.
Other notable agenda items included the approval of the final plat for Phase 2 of Compound Lane and the approval of the fi nal plat of Tree Tops subdivision.
The court also accepted funding through the Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation method of distribution. Funding in the amount of $4,810,100 is available. However, that amount is subject to change because of the upcoming public participation process and the final method of distribution approval by GLO. Also, due to grant requirements, 50% of the funding must be used for projects that benefit low and moderate-in come persons.
