MONROE -- A decision for an emergency department in Waxhaw was again delayed.

Representatives from Carolinas Healthcare System and Carolinas Medical Center - Union met with the Union County Board of Commissioners in December to seek approval to build an emergency department in Waxhaw. The board majority of Commissioners Kim Rogers, Tracy Kuehler and Lanny Openshaw said they and staff still had questions that were not answered and delayed discussion until Monday.

The item was never put on the Monday agenda because Rogers said those questions were still not addressed. Rogers was not specific about the information sought, saying only that it pertained to financial matters.

Executive Vice President of the CHS Metro Group Dennis Phillips said he was under the impression that the emergency room discussion was not scheduled until the January work session later this month. He said he and other CHS staff “have been compiling the additional information requested by the county which we plan to submit to the county very soon so that the county staff will have time to review it before the work session.”

CMC-Union wants to build the Waxhaw emergency department, but plans to spend about $6 million out of its excess revenues over expenses

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fund. That fund is generated by profits from the hospital and money earned off investments. CMC-Union operates the hospital but the county owns the building and the land. Per the lease agreement, the county commissioners have to approve any expense over $500,000 out of that fund.

Commissioners have hesitated to rubber stamp the request because of the financial ramifications it might have. They have not said they intend to deny the request, only that they want to know all the financial implications first. The money out of the revenues-over-expenses fund would revert to the county at the end of the lease and the rent payment is determined partly by how much money is in that fund on an annual basis.

Complicating the situation is the fact that commissioners are openly shopping CMC-Union. The current lease runs for another decade but commissioners are pursuing the option of selling the lease to offset current debt. None of the commissioners have committed to the sale, but have said they want to see what options are out there.

Phillips and CMC-Union President Michael Lutes plan to meet with the commissioners in January after the additional information is submitted.