By Paul Leach
Correspondent
DUCKTOWN, Tenn. -- Having co-signed on a $1.4 million loan for the Copper Basin Medical Center, Polk County Commission members want to know one thing: Can the hospital pay the bill?
The medical center, which lost $1.1 million this year, must make the monthly loan payments of $15,000. At a meeting last week of the commission, hospital CEO Al Altman assured commissioners that the note would be paid each month.
"If you have concerns about the hospital making those payments, we can make those payments," Altman said.
He said the hospital has established a $61,000 reserve to cover loan and bond payments, if necessary.
Altman also said the hospital has cut 17 jobs and reduced department manager and staff salaries. He said those measures would amount to $869,000 saved over the coming year.
"It's going to take a year or so to turn this hospital around, but I think we are at a point we have stopped the bleeding, so to speak," he said.
Polk County officials, along with those representing the towns of Ducktown and Copperhill, recently co-signed a $1.4 million loan with the hospital.
The county commissioners expressed their support of the medical center, which employs 90 people and offers care for the eastern part of Polk and the surrounding areas.
In other business, the commission approved amendments to the county budget, contingent upon the state comptroller's approval of the 2010-11 budget.
The amendments include nearly $32,000 for the sheriff department's vehicle purchases and $25,000 for GIS mapping equipment for use with the planning board, tax assessor and register of deeds.
Commissioners also plan to meet with rafting outfitters shortly before the Nov. 18 commission meeting at the request of Commissioner Isaac "Buster" Bramlett. The county and the outfitters have been at odds over the county's tax initiatives in recent years and met to discuss matters in July.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. E-mail him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.