The commissioners worry that if the hospital were to default on some of its bonds, it could endanger Blount County assets and its credit ranking. The potential audit is the latest move in an ongoing series of disagreements between local officials and the hospital. In November 2022, Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell wrote a letter to BMH officials saying that he had “grave concerns ” about how the hospital was operating.
In March 2023, the Blount County Commission approved talks between Mr. Mitchell and the University of Tennessee Medical Center about the future of the hospital. The county’s audit resolution says that BMH hospital and all of its assets are “owned by the citizens of Blount County, Tenn. “
Blount Memorial Hospital did not respond to Becker’s request for comment.
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