I am very, very disappointed, Gene Strickland said. That would be the kindest thing I could say.
According to the deal approved Monday, Lakeland Regional Health will prepay its lease to the city through the year 2040, and thereafter pay only $10 per year.
Strickland, a former city manager, and Jerry Reynolds, Lakeland s finance director for nearly 20 years, were at the table when the city first struck its deal with Lakeland Regional Health in 1986. Prior to that, it had been a community hospital run by the city, which also was responsible for its debts.
Reynolds sent an email to commissioners ahead of Monday s vote that gives insight into how the original lease agreement was intentionally structured to provide a revenue stream for the city.