The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@alltel.net

By RICHARD HARRIS
(From the April 19, 2006 issue)
   There’s a new doctor in town. Or at least, there will be in the near future for residents of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County, a growing community that isn’t used to having such medical care locally.
   The Commission of the Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County recently voted unanimously to provide start-up funds to help draw medical care to the town. The local government has pledged to spend up to $200,000 to subsidize the new healthcare facility in its first year. This is expected to be a one-time contribution. They have also agreed to fund up to $50,000 for remodeling expenses to make the old “Day Care Building” suitable for the venture.
   In return, Southwest Georgia Health Care is expected to sign on in the near future to occupy the space and provide local healthcare. They are expected to staff the site with a fulltime doctor and a nurse. If the number of patient visits is high enough, they may add dental care in the future.
   Unified Government Manager Elvin Hardy is currently putting together a “memorandum of understanding” for the two parties to sign to make it official. Once that’s done, the target date for operating the facility is September 1, but it could open sooner.
   The Commission also conducted various other items of business during its recent regular monthly meeting, including:
   * Granting approval for A.B.A.T.E., a motorcycle group, to use Riverbend Park for an annual rally (May 19-21);
   * Appointing Elvin Hardy to the Board of Directors for the West Central Georgia Region Seven Emergency Medical Services Council;
   * Re-adopting an agreement with the Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library System;
   * Began discussing the need to appoint someone to fill an opening on the Industrial Development Authority.