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Jeff McDonald – editor@monticellonews.net
The Drew County Quorum Court held its monthly meeting on Monday, November 13, at 6 p.m. in the District Court building. Drew County Judge Jessie Griffin called the meeting to order and a quick invocation was said, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll was called and all of the Justices of the Peace were found to be present. Following the roll call, the minutes from the October meeting were approved.
County Treasurer Charlie Searcy gave his report next. Searcy said that County General is currently at negative $1.3 million. He said that the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) account which is funding the Sheriff’s Office and the Detention Facility is currently at negative $2.5 million, but that number will be absorbed back into County General in 2024. The one-cent sales tax collection is currently $1.8 million. Through a combination of these and a few other accounts, the accounts were a combined negative $1.8 million as of the end of October.
Searcy added that the operating expenses show negative $643,614, compared to negative $787,000 this time last year.
“We held our own this year,” Searcy added.
Judge Griffin then gave his report. He noted that the courthouse was struck by lightning a few months ago. He said that the crew to fix that should be on the job by the end of the week. He added that some parking spots would have to be blocked off to allow the crews to complete the job.
Griffin also noted that there are crews in the basement of the courthouse who are doing work to seal the concrete and help waterproof the basement.
The Road Department has a new form with all of the pertinent information on any county job that is performed. It will detail such things as what work was done, who did the work, and an inventory of supplies used.
Judge Griffin also said that the county has purchased new software that will allow employees to sign in and take classes. He said that hopefully, they can roll that out soon.
Judge Griffin also noted that a lot of work has been done at the landfill. He said that a great deal of work has been done on the roads and that they are preparing to open new cells at the landfill in 2024.
Drew Memorial Health Systems CEO Scott Barrilleaux gave an update on the hospital. Barrilleaux said that in September, the average daily census was 17 which is the best it’s been all year. He also added that Emergency Room numbers had been trending in a “northerly fashion.”
“This may not be a good thing, but I’m glad we were there whenever the citizens of Drew County needed us,” Barrilleaux said.
Barrilleaux added that Labor and Delivery are ahead of where they were last year. There have been a couple of hospitals in the area who have closed their OB practices and several of those patients have been transferred to DMHS. Barrilleaux added that November could be a record year for deliveries at this rate.
Barrilleaux noted a loss of $425,000 in August which leads to a negative $3 million operating loss year to date. He noted that the hospital does show a bottom line of $4.2 million. He added that this is due in large part to ARPA funds and Employee Retention Credits the hospital has received.
“Without those, it would have been another rough year for us,” Barrilleaux said. Barrilleaux added that net patient revenue was $15 million, while total operating revenue was $48 million. In other words, DMHS billed $48 million but only collected $15 million.
“That math isn’t great,” Barrilleaux added. “That is the reimbursement environment we are currently living in.”
Barrilleaux added that the relationship with Baptist Health is still good and ongoing. The December 3, merger date is still a go, with a ribbon cutting to take place on December 4.
“When Baptist was first presented to us, did you not say that there would be no nurses leaving,” asked County Collector Tonya Loveless. “Now we’ve lost 40!”
“First of all, I never said that,” responded Barrilleaux. “Second off, we didn’t lose 40 nurses. We lost 40 employees, not all of which were nurses.”
“I think I was told the number was somewhere around 47,” Judge Griffin said.
“That’s about right,” Barrilleaux replied.
Barrilleaux then read a press release from Baptist Health, the release that was shared on the Advance Monticellonian Facebook page.
“I want to clear the air,” Barrilleaux said. “When I went to the state over a year ago, they required that we come up with a sustainability plan, which we did, and adopted. It was during this time that talks began with Baptist as well. In the sustainability plan, we had to figure out how to reduce expenses. Salaries make up roughly 60 percent of all of our expenses. We can only cut so many things out and find so many better prices. If the state had made us implement this plan, there would have been even more Draconian cuts. In the end, our goal is to make sure that there is a hospital in Drew County. None of us need to lose sight of that. No one wants to do what happened.”
“I think the timing, being the holiday season wasn’t good,” Judge Griffin said. “I’m not happy about that.”
“I’m trying to get us to the merger, that’s the bottom line,” Barrilleaux added.
When asked if more layoffs were expected, Barrilleaux said that he didn’t see that happening.
Sheriff Tim Nichols reported that repairs on the jail roof should begin this week.
The court members then passed an appropriation ordinance that deals with the levying of taxes for 2023-2028.
The court also passed an ordinance that would change Commercial Solid Waste late fees. This ordinance allows for charges to be levied after the customer gets 30 days past due.
Drew Co. Assessor Cheri Adcock asked to move money from one account to another to pay for restoration to a Plat Book that her office uses that dates back to the 1920s. The restoration is guaranteed for life. The council passed the appropriation.
The court also approved an ordinance that would pay county employees a stipend. Full-time employees would be paid $750 and part-time employees would be paid $250. The stipend would be prorated for the employees who didn’t work for the full year.
Judge Griffin discussed a Crisis Communication Plan for 2024. He said that he is currently drafting an outline for how information will be communicated in emergencies.
Judge Griffin also reappointed Norman Hill to the Public Facilities Board.
In the closing of the meeting, Will and Brittainy Caldwell came before the court to discuss how the recent increase in landfill fees has made it harder for them to run their small business. SeArk Dumpster Rentals has had to resort to dumping in other counties. Judge Griffin asked the Caldwells to come meet with him to discuss options and solutions to help all small businesses that have been affected by the price increase.
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