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Appling County approves CDBG submittal, FEMA outreach lease and hears hospital officials on rising admissions
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Summary
The board adopted a 2025 CDBG resolution for the Emmanuel Williams and Coot Jones Road area, approved a one-day FEMA outreach lease for the Ag Center, and heard that Appling HealthCare saw a 65% increase in admissions and may benefit from the GA Heart program.
At a March 18 called meeting the Appling County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to submit a 2025 Community Development Block Grant application through the Heart of Georgia program for work in the Emmanuel Williams and Coot Jones Road area.
County Manager Reid Lovett said paperwork was complete and recommended the chairman sign the resolution; the board voted unanimously to adopt it and authorized the chairman to execute the resolution.
Lovett also told the board FEMA requested use of county facilities for a one-day housing-outreach event; the county approved a one-day lease for FEMA outreach at an Oak Street facility or the Ag Center as presented.
During the March 4 meeting Appling HealthCare Interim CEO Shannah Martin reported a 65% increase in admissions from the prior month, with 714 emergency-department visits and a 5% transfer rate. Elizabeth Rodriguez, Appling HealthCare marketing director, described the GA Heart program as a vehicle by which residents can redirect state tax designations to assist the local hospital and said that could potentially generate up to $4 million for Appling HealthCare; the board recorded Rodriguez's request that information be shared with county employees.
Separately, Lovett reported that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division approved a scrap-tire grant that could reimburse up to $31,000 and set collection dates for early April with an alternate date in May.
All votes on these grant and outreach items were unanimous. The minutes record the board's direction to proceed with applications and leases as presented; budgetary impacts and program implementation will be managed by county staff.