The Quorum Court of Mississippi County voted 7-6 against the appropriation of county economic development tax funds to St. Bernards Healthcare during its Tuesday meeting. The proposed amount of $750,000 would have served as incentive for the hospital to build an ambulatory care clinic in Manila.
The issue was placed on the agenda for Tuesday night's meeting by County Judge Randy Carney, who said it was a time-sensitive decision because St. Bernard's was ready to move if the funds were approved.
Previous discussion of the issue by the Economic Planning and Development Committee had leaned toward the calling of a special meeting for the court to discuss the issue apart from other items that would be presented during the regular meeting.
The court was divided on whether or not the proposed clinic would be harmful to the Mississippi County Hospital system, and much debate went into what Justice Emmanuel Lofton called "the hardest vote I've had to make in 23 years."
In a specially called public meeting of the Planning and Development Committee Tuesday afternoon, community members, elected officials, and other members of the Court were present to hear statements from Ralph Beaty, MCHS CEO, John Logan of the MCHS Board of Governors, and Chris Barber, CEO of St. Bernards.
Logan opened with a statement about the history of the hospital system in the county and its continuous struggles to stay afloat, citing politics as part of the problem in the Mississippi County health care system. Logan also said that while the hospital board was not against the sale or lease of the facilities, St. Bernards officials had expressed in the past that they were not interested in taking over the county hospital system -- which would make the proposed clinic competition for the county hospital system.
"In the last two years, the hospital system has added four new doctors, improved equipment and decreased debt," Logan said. "But for us [Mississippi County] to finance our competition is just another nail in the coffin."
Justices Michael White and Fred Fleeman both spoke in favor of the clinic, noting that the Manila area has received none of the $25 million generated by the economic development sales tax, and that this clinic would be an anchor industry for the area.
Also discussed in the afternoon meeting was the possibility of the hospital system's sale to an unnamed third party, who, according to Logan, had been scheduled to visit Blytheville for a due diligence study and were concerned about the possibility of a competing clinic in the area.
While supporters of the clinic felt that it would not pose a threat to MCHS because it was an outpatient, non-emergency facility; arguments for MCHS over its possible loss of patients, resulting revenue, and employees were strong enough to sway the Court for a very slight majority in their evening vote.
Voting against the resolution to appropriate the funds were Justices Jonathan Abbot, Barry Ball, Robert Davis, Adonis Hopper, Emmanuel Lofton, Hattie Middlebrook, and Bill Nelson. Voting for the resolution were Sylvester Belcher, Judith Chiles, Benton Felts, Fred Fleeman, Ken Kennemore and Michael White.
While a decision from St. Bernards on the location of the clinic is not yet known, CEO Barber said in the Tuesday afternoon meeting that the $750,000 would have served to sway the hospital's decision in favor of Mississippi County as opposed to other options.
In other business Tuesday, the Court approved a resolution for the county judge to apply for a $300,000 grant, which would be matched by the county if received. These funds would administered by the Blytheville/Gosnell Regional Airport Authority for construction, industrial expansion and job creation. Other funds approved were $30,000 to be used for the purchase of a voice recorder to the 911 call-in center.
The Court also approved a resolution to provide for the interim filling of a vacancy for the office of Mississippi County sheriff during times of emergency. Sheriff Dale Cook named four persons who would, in succession, take over his authority, should anything disable him or otherwise prevent him from doing his job. The four individuals listed are the Sheriff's Office's chief deputy sheriff, CID captain, patrol captain and administrative captain.
Judge Carney also designated emergency replacements for his position. In successive order they are Karen Hogue, Dr. Tommy J. Carney and Terri Brassfield.
sharris@blythevillecourier.com