The Starke County Commissioners have reluctantly agreed to another 30 day extension of the Starke Hospital lease. The county owns the property and building at the corner of Culver Road and South Heaton Street, but the hospital is managed by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. Their plans are to build a new hospital on the site and tear the current building down once it’s complete.
County attorney Marty Lucas says there are still a few sticking points between the county and hospital officials with regard to the proposed lease. The hospital negotiating team had asked the county for a 60 day extension. Lucas says they’re also waiting to hear whether the City of Knox will grant their request for a tax abatement.
The council and commissioners plan to meet in a joint executive session on Tuesday, Sept. 6th prior to the start of the regular commissioners meeting to discuss the lease, which has now been extended through Sept. 30th.
