Thomasville Times

Family physician looking to open practice in 2023

Mayor Day cheers hospital progress and economic development activities



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Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day offered updates on the Thomasville Regional Medical Center and economic development activities at the city council work session and meeting Monday, Aug. 8.

Regarding the hospital and the continuing quest to obtain Covid relief funds that other hospitals received, Day said “great progress” continues to be made and there may be money coming through another fund but “I can’t go into the details” now because of ongoing discussions.

Day said a new family practice doctor should be under contract soon and would locate his practice in Thomasville in May or June of 2023.

“He is a young doctor with a family” who grew up in a rural area and wanted to live in a rural community with a rural practice, Day explained.

Also, an orthopedic group is looking at doing surgery at the local hospital. Day said the group was impressed with the hospital’s “top-notch operating rooms.”

Day said Life Flight will soon have an air ambulance helicopter permanently based at the hospital, something that will be good for the hospital and the entire region.

Day said, “business has increased and the [hospital] census has increased.”

Regarding economic development, Day said there is a lot of activity. The spec building in the South Industrial Park, a lot next to Holiday Inn Express, the old hospital property and the current library property are all being looked at now. The library will vacate its current property after the first of the year for new quarters downtown.

Shoe Dept. has opened next to Super Foods offering shoes for the entire family.

Day said Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate, who recently purchased the two Energex plant sites, is looking for someone to clean up and maintain the two sites.

Also, Day is working with a trucking company looking to locate in the South Industrial Park.

Someone has expressed interest in the old Deas Tire building downtown and would like incentives to develop the property.

Regarding the new library nearing completion downtown, Day said one item is slowing the project. The new building requires a special electrical panel and it has been delayed until November or December.

A temporary panel will be installed so that work can continue.

A decision has been made to display the old Linotype machine, from The Thomasville Times on the ground floor of the library. It is a treasure of the antique printing process.

Also, retired conservation officer Robert Hill has agreed to donate his large Indian artifacts collection to the library and it will be displayed as well.

Agenda items

Thomasville Police officers Kelvin Mitchell and Randy Pinkerton were promoted to corporal with appropriate raises.

Sgt. Chris Murphy of the police department was granted a raise.

The council agreed to advertise to fill a vacancy in the police department.

Faith Hunt, an aide at the Thomasville Library, was hired full-time with 35 hours a week. She has been working at the library.

A transportation plan for 2022-23 to use $42,000 in Rebuild Alabama funds was approved as required by law. Day said the money would be applied to existing street paving projects.

Other items

Day said that AT&T has responded to requests about poor cellular phone service and said the problem is being addressed.

Council member Roy Waite noted there are three spots on Highway 43 between Thomasville and Jackson where there is no service.

At the work session, Michelle McAndrews of Alabama Power presented Day with a check for $1,000 for landscaping at the Splash Pad. Day thanked her and said since McAndrews has been the local Alabama Power representative, she has helped the city with several grants.

Also at the work session, Day said work has started on the budget for the next fiscal year. A big item will be fuel costs. “We didn’t know gas prices were going to double… hopefully they are coming down but there is no guarantee.” He said allowances will have to be made for higher prices.

Capital works projects expected in the new year will be more work on the city gymnasium, work on the old city hall and a new roof for the armory building.

At the end of the meeting, Day said that Police Chief Mitchell Stuckey had met with Sheriff DeWayne Smith and Jackson Police Chief Bill Taylor regarding continuing conflicts between individuals and families in Thomasville and the county.

Day said lawmen are doing a good job to try to dampen problems but said they should be everyone’s concern. In the end, he said, “it is about helping folks…what are you doing about it (to help)?”

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