Photo: Commission Chairman Chuck Elizondo, middle, flanked by County Attorney Rob Whitfield and County Clerk Donna Craig with Attorney Angela Humphreys on screen. Shannon McFarlin photo.
By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–It was another long meeting for the Henry County Commission Monday evening. In the end, a Letter of Intent was approved—on a 10-4 vote—with West Tennessee Healthcare to assume operations of Henry County Medical Center. A ‘definitive’ Letter of Intent must still be approved—after more negotiations—with a target date on or about October 1 for finalization. The Letter of Intent approved Monday is still non-binding until the definitive document is finalized.
The commission had also intended to act on a new budget and tax rate, but the required paperwork was incomplete (and the board of equalization still needs to act on it). At the close of the meeting and after much discussion, the meeting was again recessed and will resume again at 5 p.m. Friday, June 28, at the courthouse, for that purpose.
At the outset of Monday’s meeting, Monte Belew of Paris, representing U.S. Representative David Kustoff, presented County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway with Congressional recognition of his service to Henry County. Ridgeway is resigning to become President of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Henry/Carroll.
During the public comment section of the meeting, County Mayor Candidate Tim Wirgau urged everyone to stop ‘pointing fingers’ and work together on the hospital issue. Speaking to the commission, Wirgau said, “You’re facing tough challenges” and have inherited problems from the past. “You have tough decisions to make. It takes good men and women to stand up…You’re being blamed for something that’s not your fault…Do not let this divide us.”
Chris Hollingsworth told the commission, “We cannot afford to be without a hospital in this community. It would devastate us.”
Bobby Milam noted he has been involved with county government for 28 years and he urged commissioners to always vote their conscience, “do your due diligence” and understand what is being voted upon.
The first half of Monday night’s session involved another Zoom call with Attorney Angela Humphreys, who is representing the county in its negotiations with West Tennessee Healthcare. The meeting was held in the 911 building which is equipped for Zoom presentations.
She updated the commission on the status of negotiations, reminding everyone there were two specific requests made by the commission: that West Tennessee provide a list of contracts it will be responsible for and to decide on two parcels of property that currently belong to HCMC.
Humprheys said West Tennessee indicated it is unable to provide a list of contracts but they do intend to assume responsibility and they said they will be interested in one parcel but not both (the properties are in the Kelly Drive area).
Angela Humphreys said the list of contracts will be presented to the county before the definitive Letter of Intent is presented by July 15. She also promised she will provide an executive summary of the issues and documents involved to the commission.
Four commissioners—Ralph Wiles, “Tater” Hayes, Marty Visser and Patrick Burns—voted against moving the vote on the Letter of Intent higher on the agenda so it could be handled before the budget discussion. Wiles, Hayes, Visser and Burns also voted no on approval of the non-binding Letter of Intent.
In other business, the commission approved a long list of budget amendment resolutions, adopted the non-profit appropriations for Fiscal 2024-2025 and approved the annual review of the Model Debt Policy for Henry County in compliance with the Governor’s Three Star program.