Anniston Council appoints City Manager to RMC Board

The Anniston City Council has appointed City Manager Brian Johnson to the RMC board during its Monday meeting.  Council members say they want Johnson to increase communication between them and the city's largest employer. It's a decision that comes after a recent series of challenges for the Anniston-based hospital, from a public fight over payments for services with insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama to decreases in revenue and rising health care costs.

The city of Anniston, which owns RMC, established the board for the nonprofit hospital in 1974. Anniston makes seven appointments to the board, while the Calhoun County Commission and the cities of Oxford and Jacksonville each has two appointments.

With about 1,500 employees, RMC is the largest employer in the city.

Johnson will take his seat on the board for the first time during its regular meeting next month.