Commission again delays action on jail health plan
By Barry H. Hendrix Contributing Writer

The Clarke County Commission again tabled plans for a new healthcare plan at the County Jail last week.

Both Commissioners Paul Bradford and Rhondel Rhone were out-of-town and not present at the Tuesday meeting, and the commission will wait to take action on the issue when all the commissioners are available for the March 11 meeting.

The commission is considering proposals from Southern Health Partners (SHP) of Chattanooga, Tenn. and Dr. Huey Kidd of Thomasville for on-site medical services at the jail.

The jail currently sends inmates to both Dr. Kidd in Thomasville and the Grove Hill Memorial Hospital. Commissioner Elma Averett doesn't agree with the practice of taking inmates to Thomasville, however, "that's up to the sheriff." The local hospital, its doctors and clinic offers a 60 percent discount to the county. "It irritates me that the sheriff won't take advantage of all of it. You're driving nearly 50 miles round trip to take them to Thomasville with no discount."

Averett is also concerned about increased liability. Taking inmates to Thomasville, "you're more apt to be involved in an accident than you would be from the jail to the Grove Hill facility….plus the expense of the gas and the vehicle and more time tied up with the deputy."

The practice of taking inmates to Thomasville was begun during the administration of former sheriff Jack Day.

(Averett's daughter Emily Steadham works as administrative assistant at Grove Hill Memorial Hospital. Day is the father of Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day.)

Approximately $150,000 was spent on inmate medical needs in fiscal year 2007, said County Administrator Annie Deloise Morris.

Commission Chairman Patricia DuBose has talked to the representative from SHP for an assurance that local resources such as Dr. Kidd and the Grove Hill hospital, would be utilized. No guarantee has been made by SHP. She said the goal is to provide the most cost effective healthcare for the jail inmates.

In other action from the Tuesday meeting, March was declared as "National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month" in Clarke County.

"CCARC (Clarke County Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc.) is a vital part of Clarke County," BeBe Garrett told the commissioners. This year marks CCARC's 35th anniversary.

The annual CCARC Spring Jubilee will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 15 at 501 Forest Avenue in Jackson. "It's a family day," Garrett said, "and we have a lot of events planned."

• The commission approved a resolution dissolving the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership, formed in 2006 between Clarke and Choctaw Counties. Another resolution was approved placing the board members representing Clarke County into the new Coastal Gateway Economic Development Agency, a fivecounty partnership, which also includes Escambia County, Monroe County and Conecuh Counties.

The board members joining Coastal Gateway from Twin Rivers include Sam Hughston, Chip Harrigan and Buddy Bedwell.

"We're being urged to go regional every time we hear from the ADO (Alabama Development Office) or from the governor," DuBose said. "When you have one place that is marketing the entire region, you can offer four or five (potential industrial sites)." Clarke County will get exposure every time the region is presented. "People are willing to travel 30, 40 or 50 miles for a job." The regional concept is a fact of life, she said.

"If you've got five counties together, you will have more impact than you can with two counties," Averett said. "You've got more political clout….What will work in one county in the region may not work in another, but if you get within the five counties, then I feel it will benefit all five."

• Permanent status was approved for Sadie Chaney, a bookkeeper in the County Commission office. In addition, the commission voted for the County E-911 to hire a new employee and the Sheriff's Department to hire a new deputy.

• A bid on a $9,274 commercial washing machine for the county jail was retracted so the county could buy a smaller machine from the same company, Commercial and Coin Equipment Laundry Company of Gulf Breeze, Fla. The larger washer could not get through the door at the jail, DuBose said. The smaller washing machine will cost $7,499, "under the bid limit."

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