Dougherty County Commission OKs employee clinic

ALBANY — Despite District 2 Commissioner John Hayes’ expressed concern that Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital had not been given enough opportunity to consider providing an on-site health care clinic for county employees, the Dougherty County Commission voted 6-0 Monday to approve a three-year agreement with CareHere Management to set up and manage such a clinic on South Jackson street.

Despite assurances at last week’s work session that Phoebe had passed on an opportunity to provide the services, Hayes said at the commission’s Monday business meeting that he wasn’t convinced Phoebe had been given “adequate opportunity” to consider the clinic.

“I hope we’ve given local participation adequate opportunity to weigh in on this, namely Phoebe,” Hayes said before the board voted on the matter. “I don’t really think we have.”

Hayes expressed the same concern at last week’s work session and was told that Phoebe officials had indicated they did not have the space to provide the on-site clinic.

CareHere Management has successfully run the city of Albany’s employee clinic for the past two years.

District 4 Commissioner Ewell Lyle said at last week’s work session that he had not been given adequate information about the clinic from staff, but he said Monday that County Administrator Richard Crowdis had brought him up to speed to the point that he was prepared to vote on the matter.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board voted to:

— Approve $25,568 in general fund spending to provide EMS uniforms. Separate bids were awarded to Cintas Corp of Albany ($3,910), Express Press of Springfield, Mo. ($3,230), and Pro1 Sportswear of Albany ($18,427);

— OK a three-year contract for the county risk management program’s property/liability and workers compensation claims third-party administration with Underwriters Safety & Claims of Savannah for $59,155 the first year and $55,155 the next two years;

— Accept a Georgia County Internship Grant from the Association County Commissioners of Georgia Civic Affairs Foundation in the amount of $2,174; and

— Accept a $2,500 Georgia Civic Awareness Grant for Students from ACCG.

Board Vice Chairman Lamar Hudgins, presiding over the meeting in the absence of Chairman Chris Cohilas, read proclamations recognizing April as Toastmasters Month and Donate Life Month in the county. Hudgins noted in the Donate Life proclamation that 41,009 Dougherty Countians had signed up as organ donors, and Life Link of Georgia Education Specialist Carla Hawkins said the group would sponsor a 5K “Walk for Life” run/walk at Darton State College Saturday.

Toastmasters International District 14 Public Relations Officer Paul Jacobs said that organization had “built and nurtured self-confidence for all who walk through our door.”