Coffee County schedules budget presentations; health department nearing opening with full-time primary care MD

Coffee County commissioners received a series of standing-committee reports that scheduled budget presentations and described near-term facility openings, including a health department soon to offer primary care services with a full-time MD.

For Budget and Finance, commissioners were told budget presentations will begin at 4:00 p.m. on April 23; the trustee, the Hands on Science Center and Donna Toney, register of deeds, are scheduled to present, and two presentation slots remain open. The Capital Outlay committee reported on April 2 that updates on the health department and the animal control center showed both facilities 'seem to be going pretty good' and scheduled its next meeting for May 7 at 4:00 p.m.

The chair said the TCAT facility at the I-24 Industrial Development site on Highway 53 is close to a ribbon cutting and that the animal control facility paving and striping are complete. The chair said the health department is 'really close' to being occupied and mentioned a likely July ribbon-cutting; the chair also said the health department will add a primary-care service with a full-time MD to serve underinsured or uninsured residents.

Commissioner Tim Morris described budget decisions that funded raises in last year's budget related to sheriff's department staffing and said the county allocated about $860,000 in that budget, with roughly $400,000 accounting for cost increases such as electricity. Morris said raises were intended to reduce turnover and described the county's support for volunteer responders, including a donation to supply fire extinguishers.

Committee announcements also included the law enforcement committee meeting on the 22nd at 4:30 p.m., the legislative committee meeting-as-needed status, and a Policies and Procedures meeting proposed for May 18 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn was seconded and the body adjourned.