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Commissioners consider creating healthcare authority to provide paid emergency medical response
Summary
County attorneys and Commissioner Billingsley outlined a plan to incorporate a Chilton County healthcare authority (discussed as "CCARE") focused on emergency medical response, with commission-appointed directors and independent funding mechanisms; attorneys said bylaws will be drafted for return to the commission in July.
County Attorney Ben Golden and attorney Lauren Brasher presented a proposal to create a Chilton County healthcare authority limited to emergency medical response, a structure they said would allow the county to establish paid, countywide rescue and ambulance capabilities without using existing county tax revenues.
"What we're really looking for tonight is kind of to begin this discussion to make sure we're heading in the right direction," Golden said, explaining the authority model permits borrowing, issuing bonds and establishing a separate funding plan. Lauren Brasher, an attorney in Golden's office, described statutory requirements: an odd number of directors, staggered terms not exceeding six years, and that the commission must appoint a majority of directors but could provide appointment flexibility in the entity's certificate and bylaws.
Commissioner Billingsley and others emphasized the authority would be expected to find its own funding, and commissioners pressed staff to avoid duplicating existing hospital authority efforts. "When he makes call 911, wants somebody to come get him," Billingsley said, summarizing constituent expectations for reliable EMS coverage. Attorneys said they will prepare bylaws and bring a draft back to the commission, targeting July for further action.
No formal action was taken; the commission will consider bylaws and any petitioning paperwork in a future meeting.
