Photo: Hospital employee Tommy Hayes addresses Thursday night’s joint meeting. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–It was another lengthy and stressful night for the Henry County Commission Thursday evening which saw the commission overwhelmingly approve the sale of the Henry County Healthcare Center nursing home, with two commissioners voting no and a third abstaining.
After hearing a positive report from Attorney Angela Humphreys on the progress of negotiations with West Tennessee Healthcare for possible lease of the hospital, the commission also decided to further address that proposal at the June 11 commission meeting.
Humphreys said, “This is a fair proposal. They have done a lot over the last week. They’ve met us half-way where they could and honored requests” that are important to Henry County. Humphreys is with the Bass, Berry and Sims law firm of Nashville.
West Tennessee Healthcare also presented a Letter Of Intent to the commission and the hospital board which had not been available for the Tuesday night meeting.
Last night’s session was actually two meetings in one, with the commission resuming Tuesday night’s recessed meeting to handle some business items, after which it met in joint session with the Henry County Medical Center (HCMC) board. The boards met with Humphreys over Zoom.
There was standing room for the sessions, as a large contingent of hospital employees was on hand. The meeting was held at the 911 Office on N. Brewer St.
During the citizens’ forum at the joint session, numerous hospital staff members spoke for the sale and future affiliation of the hospital with West Tennessee Healthcare.
At the meeting’s outset it appeared the resolution to approve the sale of the nursing home would be stalled with Commissioner Marty Visser making a motion to table the resolution to give commissioners more time to study the issue.
County Attorney Rob Whitfield said the issue has been discussed at length previously. “We’ve had many meetings where the sale of Henry County Healthcare (nursing home) and the Private Act have been discussed. This is nothing new.” Even though he was not responsible for the latest paperwork coming late, Whitfield said he apologized and noted that he and County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway received it just a half-hour before it was sent out to the commission.
Commissioner Ralph Wiles asked, “Why aren’t we up to speed?”
Commissioner Dell Carter said, “We need to move on this. There’s nothing on this we haven’t seen before.” His comment was met with applause from the audience.
After more discussion, Commissioner Jay Travis moved and Kenneth Humphreys seconded the motion to approve the sale of Henry County Healthcare Center nursing home. Voting no were Ralph Wiles and Tater Hayes, with Patrick Burns abstaining.
Some 15 employees spoke during the Citizens’ Forum, with the majority in favor of the hospital affiliating with West Tennessee Healthcare. Those who spoke noted the length of time they have worked at the hospital, with each being employed there for over 20 years.
Cheryl Owen, who has worked at the hospital for 28 years, asked the boards ‘to put your pride and politics aside” and vote for affiliation. “This affiliation is very important. We have 700 employees and that’s 700 families that will be affected (if the hospital closes). We never thought this would happen, but it’s 2024 and it’s happening.” Every business in Henry County would be affected and the hospital’s 10 clinics also would close, she said.
Dr. Joe Mobley noted that the hospital’s physicians have signed a document in favor of affiliation with West Tennessee Healthcare. “This is our best opportunity” for the future of HCMC. County Commissioners were provided with a copy of the document signed by HCMC’s physicians at a previous meeting.
Sarah Dyson said she has worked at the hospital over 22 years “and it would be devastating for us to lose our hospital. The community needs for the County Commission to get it together.”
Angie Sykes, who has worked at the hospital for 26 years, asked, “Why is it so hard to let someone come and help us?”
Hospital Pharmacist Lyle Parsons, who has worked at the hospital for 25 years, said, “West Tennessee is the only option. They are willing to take on our debt…Imagine this community without the hospital.”
Sonja Clark, who has worked at the hospital for 25 years, said, the blame game should be over. “The people at fault are long gone. Do we want the future of Henry County to have a hospital in it or do we want there to be a big empty building.”
Steve Delaney, director of accounting for the hospital, said further delays are costing jobs. “Please accept our plea and move forward,” he said.
In her report, Attorney Humphreys commented, “It’s not lost on me how important of an undertaking this is” for the community.
According to the Letter of Intent provided by West Tennessee Healthcare, she said, it is stated that at closing, the hospital would be branded “as an affiliate of West Tennessee Healthcare and employed providers would be part of West Tennessee Medical Group. The hospital would be renamed “West Tennessee Healthcare Henry County”.
West Tennessee Healthcare “will use reasonable efforts to avoid workforce reductions” and “honor years of service” for employees, according to the Letter of Intent.
According to the Letter of Intent, a commitment would be made “to provide healthcare services in Henry County..for 40 years from the effective date of the lease”. The structure of the organization would be “lease to own”, according to Humphreys, and gives the county an option to buy back the hospital operations or “right of first refusal to buy back the hospital if West Tennessee sells its assets or defaults on the lease.”
Another win for the Henry County in the negotiations was the agreement by West Tennessee to invest “at least $10M over a five year period after closing date. I see that as a big win,” she said.
Any more questions by the commission or hospital board should be directed to Humphreys before the June 11 meeting.
Visser said at the conclusion of the session, “This was a good meeting. This is what we’ve wanted.”
In business during the recessed county commission meeting:
–The commissioners formally accepted the resignation of Ricky Wade of the 1st District. Wade’s resignation letter was published in our article about Tuesday night’s commission meeting.” Anyone interested in running for the position should contact the County Election Commission, come to the office and receive a qualifying petition and receive 25 signatures. The first day the petition will be available is June 3 and they must be returned to the Election Commission June 7 at noon.
— Ridgeway announced that Thursday night’s meeting was his last as Chairman of the County Commission, but he will continue as Mayor until the August election and a new County Mayor is elected. He noted that not every county in Tennessee has the County Mayor serving as the Chairman of the County Commission. “I’m withdrawing as Chair. I’ve enjoyed it, but I still will be the County Mayor until a new one is elected.”
–Ginger Cox was formally appointed as Interim Property Assessor with the retirement of Charles Van Dyke. She will serve until the county election in August.