TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Elected officials, business leaders and others gathered at a NEBA luncheon on Tuesday to hear Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey provide updates on hot topics at city hall.
One notable topic of conversation was the FSU-TMH partnership, something Mayor Dailey threw his full support behind.
On FSU Health, Mayor Dailey said he “is strongly in favor” of the sale and that “it’s the right way to go.”
Critics of the deal worry that giving up ownership of the hospital would open the door for political interference of a drop off in charity care.
While Dailey said a “variety of MOUs” had been signed, a statement from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said the board of directors had not reviewed or approved any new MOUs concerning additional board seats.
“TMH will not support or accept any arrangement that alters the agreed-upon structure or results in state, higher education representatives holding a majority of seats on the new board,” the statement read.
That statement from TMH came after the mayor’s address at the Capital City Country Club, and signals that a FSU Health partnership may not actually be a done deal.
At its last meeting, the City Commission voted 3-2 to advance the sale of TMH to FSU, and another vote will be scheduled.
Dailey said the final sale price is still being negotiated.
Dailey reiterated that the hospital would remain publicly owned, seeking to quell fears as he briefed the business community on a host of issues.
”They will accept everybody that walks through the doors, indigent care, Medicaid, Medicare, everybody that wants to come to the public hospital will be accepted. Nothing will change. I don’t know how I can be any more clear,” Mayor Dailey said.
The TMH-FSU merger has been a hot topic since the pair announced their agreement to create an academic health center last month.
A Memorandum of Understanding between TMH and FSU stated that TMH would always retain a majority of the board seats, but FSU would gain seats over time.
FAMU and Tallahassee State College also got a seat at the table, but it had been unclear if TSC’s seat would come out of TMH or FSU’s allotment of board seats.
Tuesday afternoon’s statement from TMH seems to clarify that TMH won’t agree to a deal that gives the state majority control, even if that’s supported by the mayor.
Other topics at Monday’s luncheon ranged from the Capital City Country Club sale to Washington Square.
Capital City Country Club Sale
Mayor Dailey addressed the potential sale of the Capital City Country Club, which has been an ongoing discussion in the capital city.
The city currently owns the property, but the country club wants to buy it; however, critics are worried about the efforts to preserve the graves of formerly enslaved people found on the property.
Mayor Dailey said they need to “honor” the formerly enslaved people buried at the country club, but provided no explanation as to why a memorial wasn’t built back in 2021, though one will be built next year.
The commission previously voted for a potential sale to be reconsidered later, alongside other options, and they voted down a staff recommendation to authorize the sale.
Washington Square
The mayor was also asked about the Washington Square project, which has become downtown’s biggest eyesore.
A NEBA member asked what would become of the site. The mayor mentioned a private investment, but nothing specific.
Mayor Dailey said he doesn’t know if the concrete will come down, but suspects it will.
The city is trying to foreclose the property. Some construction work was happening on the site last week, leading to road closures.
The developer previously told WCTV they plan to finish the project even in light of the foreclosure suit and growing animosity from both local governments.
Fire Fees
The topic of fire fees was touched on briefly. Mayor Dailey said he’s always open to negotiating.
The city commission voted 3-2 to stop providing firefighters to unincorporated Leon County in three years as part of a long-running disagreement about fire fees.
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