Council approves conveyance of hospital-adjacent land to St. Francis after bed-tower completion

In a special-call session, the council approved a special warranty deed and the termination of a lease to transfer property adjacent to the new St. Francis bed tower to St. Francis Regional Services Incorporated, completing an obligation under a March 15, 2022 project‑development agreement that resolved prior litigation.

City staff said the transfer is the final step required after St. Francis notified the city of substantial completion of the bed tower. Ann, a representative of the Muscogee Medical Center Authority, summarized the legal history and said the bed-tower property itself was transferred earlier under the settlement; the adjacent properties covered by the current deed were the remaining parcels to be conveyed. "You have actually already agreed to do this. You have already contracted to do it," Ann said when describing the settlement and prior court approval.

City attorneys confirmed the agenda language was amended to specify "adjacent property" rather than the bed tower itself, and staff advised that no separate public referendum was required because the transfer was part of the settlement executed for public benefit. The council approved the amended deed and termination by roll-call vote.

The transfer is intended to finalize property rights tied to the hospital project and the earlier settlement; staff said monitoring and contractual obligations in the project-development agreement remain in effect to support local health-care service commitments.