Commission ratifies 90-day extension for Banner compliance review; bond counsel seeks public hearing on tax‑exempt notes

The Natrona County Board of County Commissioners on an unspecified date voted to ratify a letter granting the Metropolitan Collective Health Trust a 90‑day extension to deliver its final report on Banner Health’s compliance with contractual covenants and heard from Banner’s bond counsel about a planned public‑hearing process tied to tax‑exempt commercial paper issuance that could include up to $8.3 million for Wyoming Medical Center.

The extension request came to the commission from Eric Nelson, the trust’s board chair and a county appointee to the Metropolitan Collective Health Trust. Nelson said the trust retained PYA, a national consulting firm, after issuing an RFP and conducting interviews and that PYA’s work will be independent, include hospital administrators and attorneys, and run under a three‑year contract. He told commissioners the trust wants to be responsive to prior public concerns and that a community portal will allow residents to submit concerns to the consultant. "We got them on contract for 3 years so this this will not be a 1 off 1 off endeavor," Nelson said.

Nelson asked the commission to approve a 90‑day extension of the deadline for the trust’s comprehensive contractual report, noting the trust still expects to provide balance‑obligation reports on the March 1 timetable and that the extension would cover the full report…