Health Care Authority pushing for ‘yes’ vote on sales tax

Randolph County Health Care Authority chairman Bill Caypless made it clear on Thursday which way he plans to vote on Aug. 4.

“Between myself and Dr. (Jeff) Stewart, we have over 70 years of experience in healthcare in this county,” Caypless said. “If we didn’t believe in this thing, we wouldn’t be pushing for it so hard.”

That was the central theme of Thursday’s meeting of the RCHCA as it works to make county citizens aware of the Aug. 4 vote on whether to adopt a one-cent sales tax to raise $1.75 million for the construction of a new hospital in Wedowee.

The approval of the tax by the county’s voters is the critical element in an agreement among several county entities and Tanner Medical Center to build an up-to-date replacement for Wedowee Hospital and keep the existing facility open until the replacement is built.

If the sales tax is not approved, the deal with Tanner would die and Wedowee Hospital would close, leaving the county without a functioning emergency room.

At Thursday’s meeting Caypless emphasized the need for the county’s voters to read the agreement and understand what they are voting for.

“It’s important for everybody to read it and know what’s going on,” he said.

Caypless re-emphasized that point after the question was raised during the meeting regarding how much of the sales tax money would go to Tanner Medical Center.

“Tanner does not get one dime of that money,” Caypless said.

He pointed out that the agreement provides for the creation of a new entity, which is referred to as “Tanner Sub.” A board of directors, which would consist of nine board members, would be established to govern Tanner Sub. Six of those board members would be appointed from within the county, and three would be representatives of Tanner.

That Tanner Sub board would be the decision-making body on what happens with the sales tax funds outside of the specified allocations in the agreement.

As stated in the agreement, “The Board of Directors of Tanner Sub will have complete governing authority over Tanner Sub and the hospital.”

Copies of the agreement are available at the county commission annex on East Broad Street next to the courthouse in Wedowee.

Caypless unveiled yard signs at the Thursday meeting and relayed plans for the Authority to have a presence at this weekend’s Summer on Main in Roanoke, as well as at the upcoming Art on the Median event in Wedowee and the annual July 4 rodeo.