After a lengthy executive session, Lawrence County Commissioners passed an ordinance transferring the day-to-day operation of River Valley Health Systems to the county court-appointed receiver.

Thursday, March 01, 2001

After a lengthy executive session, Lawrence County Commissioners passed an ordinance transferring the day-to-day operation of River Valley Health Systems to the county court-appointed receiver.

Commissioners met with RVHS officials and attorneys during the closed-door meeting. After the meeting, commissioners adopted the resolution transferring the management of the daily business of the hospital to Robert Payne, the receiver appointed by the Lawrence County Common Pleas Court, beginning March 1. Payne, a South Point accountant, was appointed by the court to oversee the collection of money received and to determine the liabilities of the now defunct hospital.

"We (the County Commission)want to cooperate with the receiver…to oversee the day-to-day operations during the interim," Commission Vice-President Jason Stephens said.

The commissions’ resolution grants the receiver the power to run the daily business of the facility and control the real estate. Payne will also control monies received by the hospital and will be responsible for the "cost of control and operations of the facility."

The commissioners explained that the receiver was in the "best position to oversee the…operations and control of the hospital facilities during the interim period."

The commission has been in control of the hospital’s operations since the facility closed in January.

Efforts were made to contact Payne at his South Point office, but he was unavailable.