MONTEVIDEO - Chippewa County and the City of Montevideo have approved a new joint powers agreement for their governance of the Chippewa County - Montevideo Hospital.
In separate actions at their meetings Tuesday, both governing bodies also recommended changes to the bylaws as developed by a committee of Montevideo City Council and Chippewa County Board representatives. The recommended bylaw changes will go to the hospital commission for approval.
According to information presented during the County Board meeting Tuesday, the primary change in the joint powers agreement requires that the seven-member hospital commission consist of two Montevideo City Council members and two members of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners. Each previously appointed one member.
Under the new agreement, the council will appoint one city resident to the commission and the County Board will appoint one county resident to the commission. The six commission members will appoint a seventh member; the at-large member must be a county resident.
The new bylaws require that hospital purchases over $250,000 be approved by the City Council and County Board, with the exception of payroll, bonds and other ongoing expenditures.
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The recommended bylaw changes also further remove the city and county from direct liability in any potential litigation involving the hospital, according to discussion at the County Board of Commissioners meeting.
There have been minor changes to bylaws over the years, but the new joint powers agreement is believed to represent the most significant modification since the original adoption in the 1950s.
