North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein recognized the work of two Macon County mayors, including Highlands’ Patrick Taylor, on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Stein presented the Dogwood Award to Taylor and Franklin Mayor Bob Scott for their work on securing the best deal for their communities during the HCA purchase of Mission Hospital.
“When the first draft of the purchase agreement came out there were some conditions that HCA would have to meet, and among those was keeping the hospitals in Highlands and Franklin open for a minimum of five years,” Taylor said. “Well, we wanted some additional conditions, and for that term to be a minimum of 10 years, and mayor Scott and myself fought for that.”
Because the sale of Mission Health, which operates hospitals in Highlands, Franklin, Spruce Pine and Asheville, had to be approved by Stein, the mayors went to his office directly to add their input.
“Mayors Bob Scott and Patrick Taylor were extremely helpful to my office and me as we worked to negotiate the best deal for health care in Western North Carolina,” Stein said. “My office conducted an extensive review of the Mission/HCA transfer and mayor Scott and mayor Taylor provided helpful on-the-ground insight throughout that process. I appreciate their leadership in standing up to protect the people they serve and their health care.”
Taylor recognized Highlands attorney Barrett Hawks for his work reviewing the original purchase agreement and assisting the mayors as they made their case for Stein’s office to impose stricter guidelines for HCA to follow after the sale was completed.
“One of the big things we wanted was an independent monitor to be put in place to ensure that HCA was doing all of the things they agreed to after the purchase, and attorney general Stein’s office made that happen,” Taylor said. “There are a lot of rumors around about what HCA might or might not do in the future, but for now they are being held accountable in terms of fulfilling their end of the deal.”
Taylor and Scott received their Dogwood Awards at a ceremony in Raleigh. The awards are given annually to honor North Carolina citizens who work to keep their communities safe, healthy and happy in their communities. There were 21 total Dogwood Award recipients statewide.
“It was humbling, for example, because we were there to receive an award alongside a school resource officer whose quick action stopped a student with a gun on school grounds,” Taylor said. “There were a number of law enforcement representatives that were recognized for heroic works.”
Along with Taylor and Scott, Cherokee Indian Hospital CEO Casey Cooper was also bestowed a Dogwood Award, rounding out the Western North Carolina honorees.
