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County commission contracts with Chattanooga firm to provide healthcare services for jail inmates The Clarke County Commission voted Tuesday to approve a contract with Southern Health Partners (SHP) of Chattanooga, Tenn. for providing healthcare management for inmates of the county jail. The service would cost the county $118,500 the first year with a fixed 3.5 percent increase for each of the next two years. Approximately $30,000 of that price will go for outside care (such as trips to the hospital or dentist). If outside care goes over $30,000-a-year, the county would have to pay for the overage. There is an initial 90-day period where both parties can terminate the contract. SHP will provide nurses and doctors on site at the jail and will pay for transporting inmates offsite for medical reasons. "We have done due diligence," said Commission Chairperson Patricia DuBose. "…Obviously making a decision like this is not easy. We have to make a decision that we feel is best for all." Commissioner Paul Bradford cast the lone vote against the contract with SHP. In a statement Monday, Bradford praised the quality of services of Dr. Huey Kidd of Thomasville who provided healthcare services for jail inmates. Kidd provided his own proposal for on-site services at the jail. "Dr. Huey Kidd has done a good job for this county," Bradford said. "He has taken care of our inmates. One reason that he was being used was because he did it in such a timely manner." Bradford was satisfied with the proposal Kidd had offered the county. There has been concern expressed by the commission that SHP makes use of area healthcare providers, when possible. County Attorney Bruce Wilson said Monday that language was modified in the contract where SHP would use their best effort to utilize local providers. However, ultimately, "that choice will really be theirs….That has got to be their decision." In other action from Tuesday's meeting, the commission approved an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to apply therma plastic striping to approximately 39.4 of the most heavily traveled roads. ALDOT will provide $60,000 of funding, and the county will pay the rest of the $161,720 project. In addition, the county has agreed to allow ALDOT to maintain the flashing caution light at the intersection of Highway 69 and County Road 15. The county will pay for the maintenance, which County Engineer Sam Noble said would be minimal. • The commission approved placing a new mobile home structure as a polling place for Walker Springs. The owner of the property where the polling place stands in the Carlton community does not want a mobile home but a more permanent structure, said County Engineer Sam Noble. The small station already there will have to be used for the June primary. The county will continue to study how to provide a better station there. • Leave of absence was approved for Arlinda Boykin, an employee at the Clarke County Jail. • Permanent status was granted for Patricia Caskey, a maintenance employee. • The Sheriff's Department was approved to fill a vacancy for a booking officer, and the Appraisal Department was approved to also fill a vacancy. • The Road and Bridge Department and the Utility Board were asked to make a recommendation for the Merit Board.
• The commission will study but took no action on a resolution to regulate the licenses of businesses who hire illegal aliens.
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