Cook County EDC | County sees accomplishments in 2015

County sees accomplishments in 2015

Article Source Link By: Charles Shiver

The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted recently to set the County’s 2015 millage rate/tax levy the same as it has been since 2012, 11.9 mills.

County taxes levied in incorporated and unincorporated areas are planned to total $4,062,882.84.

The FY2016 General Fund Budget has been planned at $8,930,650. The total budget with enterprise funds included is $12,991,300. The new budget includes a $250,000 allocation to Cook Medical Center for charitable and indigent medical care, as well as increasing employee salaries by $219,715.59 to reflect “equity” based upon how long employees have worked for the County and to provide a cost of living increase for employees.

Under a new contract with Community Ambulance, the County will no longer have to pay a $385,000 supplement for Emergency Medical Services, said County Administrator Faye Hughes.

The County Commissioners voted recently for the County to enter into a contract with H&CS Services, LLC, doing business as Community Ambulance (formerly known as Mid Georgia Ambulance). The contract will be for a period of five years with an automatic renewal every 12 months for an additional 12 months unless acted on by either party.

The $385,000 savings will be used to cover the $250,000 allocation to Cook Medical Center for charitable and indigent medical care. The funding to Cook Medical Center is scheduled to begin with the County’s new general fund budget. The County’s new fiscal year started Oct. 1, 2015.

Earlier this year, a resolution was passed to allocate the annual amount of $250,000 of the county government’s general fund budget to Cook Medical Center for 20 years, beginning Oct. 1, 2015. The purpose of this appropriation is to help offset the growing expense of charitable and indigent medical care provided to the county by the hospital, according to hospital officials.

In August, the Adel City Council voted to provide funding to Cook Medical Center not to exceed $2 million to use for improvements in the hospital’s medical facilities. These funds will be paid for over a 20-year period.

“The decisions by the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the Adel City Council will help protect the legacy of Cook Medical Center and is an important step in securing the future of healthcare services in Adel,” said William T. Richardson, Tift Regional Health System President/CEO. “I would like to express our gratitude to the Commissioners and City Council Members for their leadership and vision. This is a great example of community partnership.”

Michael Purvis, Cook Medical Center CEO, added: “Cook Medical Center is an essential health care provider for the community as well as an economic engine. Unfortunately, smaller community hospitals like Cook Medical Center are struggling in this changing healthcare landscape. Many facilities such as ours have to partner with larger health systems to continue operating, as we did with Tift Regional in 2012. However, we are still operating at a loss due to a rising underinsured population, which is being subsidized by Tift Regional.

“The Cook County Board of Commissioners and Adel City Council are key stakeholders for our community and we thank them for making this significant investment. We will be unveiling a long-term plan for Cook Medical Center in the near future.”

Other recent achievements by the Cook County Board of Commissioners or community projects in which the County has participated:

The Cook County Workforce Development Center’s addition in Sparks - This 8,000-square-foot expansion of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College’s campus provided new library space, classrooms, and space for the new General Maintenance Mechanic Technical Certificate of Credit. The program started in spring semester 2015. Occupancy was taken in October 2014.

Zoning Ordinance improvement - The Commissioners approved the Zoning Ordinance Amendment that reduces the lot size requirement in an A-U (Agricultural) zone from 2.5 acres to 2 acres; the required 200-foot road frontage will remain the same.

Fire equipment - The Commissioners accepted quotes on fire equipment and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs) - Municipal Equipment, $14,139; and Fisher Scientific - SCBS’s, bottles, face pieces, $47,015.76.

Georgia State Patrol radars - The Commissioners voted to purchase four radars for the Georgia State Patrol, quote of $11,898 from Stalker Radar. Comprehensive Plan update - The Commissioners voted to approve the 2015 Comprehensive Plan update and adopt the Resolution.

Airport contract - The Commissioners voted to adopt a Georgia Department of Transportation Resolution and authorize Chairman Jeff Lane’s endorsement on the airport contract for an additional $450,810.06. Those funds will be used in repayment of the USDA loan for the airport hangar projects.

Also, the Commissioners voted to accept airport funding assistance for construction of the corporate hangar area. The federal grant will be in the amount of $150,000; County’s match, $16,666.70.

Recreation property purchased - The Commissioners voted to ratify Chairman Lane’s endorsement on a property sales agreement for 105.50 acres of property, formerly known as the Burnett Farm, located on Highway 37/Highway 76. The land will be developed for future recreation.

County road projects - County plans to complete Airport Square project - The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously that 2016 Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) funds be applied to the costs for covering the additional distance for paving on Airport Square.

McConnell Bridge Road resurfacing, 2016 additional funding - The Commissioners approved the $324,000 LMIG (30 percent County match) for McConnell Bridge Road (with the intersection included in cost). The Commissioners authorized Chairman Lane’s endorsement on the 2016 Local Government Affidavit and Application for additional LMIG funding.

Pending projects include construction of a new EMS building and possible privatization of garbage collection.