The county commission voted 6-0 to join the effort by the Copper Basin Hospital district to amend the lease for operation of Copper Basin Medical Center by Copper Basin Community Hospital Inc. In approving $4,000 for legal fees, however, commissioners said they did not want to support an effort to break that lease.

Ducktown has made a $2,000 commitment for legal fees for the district and Copperhill indicated support but wanted more information about when the money would be needed.

Commission Chairman Mark Bishop explained that the District Board wants to file suit to amend the lease so the corporation would be responsible for debts at the end of the lease. As it is now, he said, the debt would come back on the district, which has representatives from Copperhill, Ducktown and the county.

Bishop added, “We’re not trying to take over the operation; we just want to amend the debt.” Greg Brooks said it’s a lot of money but sounds like a good investment. Daren Waters commented that the debt could fall back on the county. In addition to operation deficits, the hospital has a bond for around $350,000 for which the county is ultimately responsible.

Daniel Deal made the motion to provide the funds for legal fees, seconded by Brooks.

Bishop said amending the lease would be a good thing because it would force the corporation to watch the indebtedness. As long as the corporation is making its bond payments, he said, the status quo is pretty good as far as them operating the hospital. He said he wouldn’t want to give the district $4,000 and have them try to void the lease. Deal amended the motion for the money to be used only for trying to amend the lease. It was approved unanimously, with Buster Lewis, Kevin Stephens and Fred Wilcoxon absent.