NGHS expected to assume operation of Hall health clinic

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County Board of Commissioners will vote Thursday on leasing the Hall County Health Department's Primary Care Clinic to Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS).

County officials said Monday at a commission work session that NGHS has contributed $1 million each year for at least three years to pay all staff salaries, supplies and costs at the clinic. However, because the clinic still belonged to the Health Department it was constrained by inefficient information system requirements, state policies and procedures and limitations on operating hours.

By leasing the county-owned building to the health system and allowing it to run the clinic, hours and services can be expanded.

"One of the reasons this is important to the community is it gives people an alternative to going to the emergency room for primary care," said David Westfall, director of the Health Department.

MULBERRY CREEK COMMUNITY CENTER

Also Thursday, the commission will consider a Guaranteed Maximum Price of $3.99 million for construction of the Mulberry Creek Community Center in South Hall.

The project manager is Charles Black Construction Co.

District 1 Commissioner Bobby Banks, in whose district the center will be built, asked the commission to consider postponing the project for three to six months.

"During these difficult economic times, I feel it would be inappropriate to spend $4 million when families are struggling," he said. "The construction cost seems high for the economic time we are in."

Assistant County Administrator Phil Sutton presented the commission with additional funding information at the commission's request.

He said that $2 million will come from 1-cent sales tax dollars slated for this project, and $1.25 million will come from the sale of the old community center property to Blackshear Place Baptist Church. Two years ago, the commission approved the remainder to be funded by impact fees. All funds are available.

Sutton added it is necessary to start the project as soon as possible so Parks and Leisure Services can vacate the old community center by October 2009, which is when the agreement with the church expires. The commission will vote on the matter Thursday.

FLOWERY BRANCH TAD

Also Monday, Flowery Branch City Manager Bill Andrew presented the commission with information about the city's tax allocation district (TAD), which includes 237 parcels and 567 acres in historic Flowery Branch and the I-985 corridor.

Andrew said these areas are currently underdeveloped and need a boost from the city to meet their potential.

The property, valued at $47.5 million, makes up 8 percent of the city's taxable digest and .27 percent of the county's digest. Once the county approves TAD resolution, which is on Thursday's consent agenda, the county will continue to receive the $113,000 in taxes from that area. As the land value rises due to improvements on the property, the increment that the taxes increase will go to pay for redevelopment.