After an approximately 90-minute closed meeting at a special call meeting of Bamberg County Council on Monday night ,December 27, the Bamberg County Council reconvened to open session and unanimously approved two contractual matters related to the Bamberg County Memorial Hospital and a request from the hospital board for funds.

The first item approved by county council authorized County Administrator Rose Dobson-Elliott and County Attorney Richard Ness to continue to negotiate and execute contractual arrangements (1) with Bamberg County and UHS Pruitt and (2) the second an agreement with Bamberg County and Philadelphia based Healthcare Management Partners LLC. (HMP); and (3) to allow the Bamberg County Administrator and County Finance Director (Thomas M. Thomas) to work with Bamberg County Hospital on the drawdown of funds to be used for operating expenses.

The motion was made by Council member Chris Wilson to approve each item and seconded by council member Clint Carter. Wilson noted that the only thing he would like to add is that the first motion specifically states the contract between Bamberg County and UHS Pruitt and Bamberg County and Healthcare Management Partners LLC. (HMP) “Concerning the hospital building, because that is specifically what it is,” Wilson said. In reference to the funds requested by the hospital, county administrator Rose Dobson-Elliott noted that the amount of funds to be drawn down for the hospital had not been determined at this point.