Rankin County approves lease assignment and amendments for 350 Crossroads Boulevard; officials say $70 million investment won’t use local tax dollars

At a meeting of Rankin County officials, members voted to approve the assignment and assumption of the lease for county-owned property at 350 Crossroads Boulevard in Brandon to Brandon HMA LLC and Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation, and they approved related amendments and extensions to the lease agreement.

The staff member who presented the item said the transaction is structured so the county will see "improved delivery of services" at the existing facility and "an investment of over $70,000,000 in this facility." He added, "None of which is being funded by the tax paying citizens of Rankin County." The staff member credited Baptist Memorial Healthcare, CHS and outside legal advisers, including Bernini and "mister **** Howard and his team," for helping to complete the deal.

The staff member moved to approve the resolution; the motion was seconded and, after brief remarks thanking healthcare partners, the board voted in favor and the motion carried. The transcript records voice assent and the chair’s announcement that the motion carried; specific roll-call tallies were not given in the record.

Earlier in the meeting the board had voted to go into an executive session; the record later noted that no action was taken during that session. After approving the lease action, a member moved and the board voted to recess the meeting to June 12.

The approval authorizes the assignment and assumption of the lease and related amendments and extensions; the transcript does not specify the detailed terms of the amendment or the precise schedule for the work or investments mentioned. The county’s legal or administrative documents (the lease and related amendment) were referenced in the presentation but were not included in the transcript.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the board recessed to June 12.