As the completion date on the new St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital draws closer, the St. Clair County Commission is taking steps to ensure the project goes off without a hitch. Tuesday, commissioners authorized a $4 million warrant through Metro Bank to purchase the hospital facility that will be vacated when St. Vincent’s moves operations to the new facility.

“This is one of the last steps in the new hospital’s construction,” said county attorney Bill Weathington.

One of the conditions of the agreement to build the hospital was that St. Clair County and/or the city of Pell City would purchase the old facility and its surrounding property.

After the warrants are purchased, St. Clair County will officially own the old hospital and its surrounding property, with Pell City paying part of the 3.1 percent interest on the two-year warrant.

As long as St. Vincent’s occupies the building, the county has agreed to remit the rent payment for the building to the St. Clair County Healthcare Authority, as their contribution to the hospital takes the rent payment into account.

“We committed to this a year ago, but we waited until the last minute to avoid paying more interest than necessary,” Weathington said.

In other actions:

— Two public words projects under $50,000 were awarded to Goodgame Construction. Repairs to the Pell City jail’s roof were approved at $7,422, while $16,194 will go to repair the community corrections laboratory. Damages were sustained during the April 27 storms, and will be submitted as insurance claims after repairs are completed.

— Letting of bids for roof repairs at the Pell City courthouse was approved.

— A vacant full-time maintenance supervisor position was approved to be posted at the request of Property Manager Harold Hoyle.

— Weekend work was approved for the road department in order to haul soil into the Odenville arena in preparation for a rodeo in August.

— A part-time bus driver in the Public Transportation department was hired.

— A part-time jail employee was temporarily assigned to serve as a part-time maintenance employee.