The Johnson County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 1 approved a lease agreement with Johnson Memorial Hospital to house a county behavioral health facility, and a ribbon-cutting was scheduled for Jan. 15.

During the meeting, a commissioner said the project "finally got it worked out" and described long delays caused by bureaucracy, noting they had to involve state legislators to move the project forward. The same commissioner said the facility "has been really ready to go since May" but that the opening was delayed until Jan. 15 because of administrative hurdles. The board moved to approve the lease, a motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The transcript does not include the lease amount, length of the lease, or specific operational responsibilities between the county and Johnson Memorial Hospital. The board indicated the facility fulfills a pressing county need for behavioral-health services.