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The ADVANCE, September 22, 2021/Page 14A
Plans Move Forward for
Montgomery’s New EMS Building
By Deborah Clark
Regional Editor
dclarkadvance@gmail. com
Montgomery County’s
plans to build a new Emer
gency Medical Services
building took a step forward
last week.
In its regular Septem
ber 13 session, the Mont
gomery County Commis
sion adopted a resolution
to authorize the application
for a USDA Rural Develop
ment loan for up to a $1.4
million to construct an ap
proximately 4,000-square-
foot Emergency Medical
Services building on Earth
Saver Drive.
County Manager Bran
don Braddy explained that
the USDA loan will be
made available to the coun
ty with a long-term, fixed in
terest rate (2.25%) and will
be serviced out of SPLOST.
He said the projected cost,
which has been calculated
at $200+ per square foot,
may be adjusted downward
if bids come in under the es
timates.
The structure will re
place an inadequate and
outdated building that pre
viously served as a portable
school classroom.
During the session,
the Commission approved
hiring SP Design Group of
Macon as architect for the
EMS building. The Com
mission also agreed to hire
the firm to design modifi
cations for the Sheriff’s Of
fice. This construction will
accommodate COVID safe
distancing provisions in
the office and will be paid
for through American Res
cue Plan Act funding. The
ARPA funding coming to
Montgomery County totals
$ 1.78 million that will be al
located in two payments. Of
this total, $1.25 million will
go toward broadband devel
opment and the remainder
will be allotted to the con
struction at the sheriff’s of
fice.
The Commission also
adopted a resolution to re
quest from the Georgia De
partment of Transportation
that additional safety mea
sures be put in place at the
intersection of State Routes
130 and 135. Multiple
wrecks and fatalities have
occurred at this intersection
where Highways 130 and
135 and Petross Road con
verge.
In other matters, the
Commission approved the
first reading of an amend
ment to the county ordi
nance regarding setting
speed limits on various
county roads, but the action
was later rescinded when
the County was notified by
the DOT that further modi
fications need to be made
to the amendment. A new
resolution including the
DOT’s recommendations
will be introduced, and the
process of amending the or
dinance will be reinitiated.
The Commission ap
proved refunding $ 1,351.67
in property taxes to Bobby
and Melinda Gibbs. Brad
dy said the refund would
be handled through the
County’s Tax Commission
er through the collections
budget. The Commission is
authorized to refund taxes
for up to seven years.
In his report on County
finances, Braddy related that
at the end of August, 66.7%
oftheyearhad elapsed. Bud
geted revenue and expen
ditures are $4,500,185.00,
year-to-date actual revenues
are $3,950,285.29 and ex
penses are $2,999,081.34,
so on August 31, revenues
exceeded expenses by
$951,203.95.
The Commission ap
proved the Local Govern
ment Scrap Tire Abatement
Reimbursement Program
Agreement and declared
nine acres of timber at 208
Earth Saver Driver as sur
plus property. The Com
mission authorized the sale
of this timber (estimated at
891 tons) and for the invita
tion for bids to commence.
EMA Director Donnie
Daniels reported that the
County will begin regular
siren tests on October 6
using the new Community
Emergency Alert station
on the campus on Brewton-
Parker College. The tests
will be conducted the first
Wednesday of each month
at noon. An Emergency
Alert System linked to the
county’s 911 center will
alert the community when
threatening weather is im
minent. The siren can be
heard from one mile away
or more. The project, which
may be used as a model for
other communities, was
funded through a grant.
COVID
continued from page 12A
dining. Dr. Karen McColl,
Vice President of Medical
Affairs and Chief Medical
Officer at Memorial Health
Meadows Hospital, said
Monday that the hospital
was treating 34 COVID pa
tients, down from the week
before. “Unfortunately, the
number of patients on ven
tilators is not going down,”
she said. This week, 16 of
the most critically ill CO
VID patients were on ven
tilators, an indication that
many people are developing
more severe complications
because of COVID infec
tions.
Dr. McColl said that
overall, the community
density for COVID infec
tion has declined over the
last two weeks. She said the
positive COVID test rate
had declined to 12% over
a high two weeks ago of
35%. But, the lack of avail
ability for monoclonal anti
body infusions might cause
somewhat of a backslide.
“This may throw a bit of a
wrench in our hopes if the
lack of availability of infu
sions affects our ability to
prevent the worsening of
infection,” Dr. McColl said.
She agreed that the commu
nity could see an increase
in hospitalizations of those
who could have benefited
from an early-onset infu
sion.
She said Meadows has
a very limited supply of Re-
generon, but has a better
supply of Bamlanivimab,
and efforts will be ongo
ing to obtain and maintain
monoclonal antibody sup
plies.
Patients should talk to
their healthcare provider
about monoclonal anti
body treatments and must
have a prescription or phy
sician’s referral to receive
treatments. Those receiving
infusions must fit certain
criteria. To find a COVID
vaccination location, visit
dph.georgia.gov/ covid-vac-
cine.
Do you have a child that will be 3 or 4 by September 1, 2021?
We are inviting you to complete an application for the
2021-2022 Head Start program year.
Head Start is
Raising Future
Champions!
SERVICES INCLUDE
• Family Engagement
• Health and Nutrition
• Social Services
• School Readiness
• Partnering with Families
• Parent Training
• No Transportation Provided
Contact us at 912-526-9229
to schedule an appointment to
complete an application.
Our Toombs County Center is located
at 178 Williams Avenue in Lyons.
The Toombs County Head Start program is operated by action pact, your Local
community action agency. Please note that Head Start is a federally funded
preschool program with services provided at no charge to enroliees.
Applicants must be income eligible, however, priority is given to children with
a diagnosed disability (IEP/IFSP), children in foster care and/or children
experiencing homelessness, regardless of family income.
action
<20 pact
ALL.
TOGETHER.
ONE.
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH — Toombs Central Elementary School has announced Au
gust Students of the Month. (L to R): Front Row: Maddox Wilkes (Kindergarten), Ana
Lucia Oliveros (Second Grade), Bo Martin (Pre-K), Gunner Rountree (First Grade), Back
Row: Madelyn Mulling (Third Grade), Emmanuel Tinoco (Fifth Grade), and Kynslee Wil
liams (Fourth Grade).
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