Athens City Council members said Monday they want more input when it comes to joint projects with the Limestone County Commission.

Two issues came up in a council work session in which the two governments are being called on to find a solution. Several council members say they want a bigger part in the decision making than they say they are currently being afforded.

First, the state is building a new $4 million health department on a tract of jointly owned, city-county subdivided land off U.S. 31 South. Public Works Director James Rich said the city and county are being asked to equally fund $285,000 in infrastructure improvements to the property, including running water and electric lines and building a road.

The Alabama Department of Transportation will be asked to build turn lanes and a crossover drive to access the property off U.S. 31.

Rich said there were two options in for the city in funding its share of the cost: the county would pay the entire cost up front and the city would reimburse the county from its half of proceeds from selling off other smaller tracts of the property to business and light industry.

“I don’t trust the county,” said Councilman Jimmy Gill. “I want to see it in writing, signed sealed and delivered.”

Gill’s distrust stems from actions taken by Limestone County Commission Chairman David Seibert who two years ago approached the local legislative delegation and secured passage of legislation that has Athens and every other entity that receives funding from ad valorem taxes having to pay a pro rata share of the cost of collecting the taxes.

Seibert acknowledged at the time that he did not discuss the measure with any of the municipalities or agencies in the county that would be affected by the legislation. Athens’ pro rata share of collecting the taxes is nearly $90,000.

Councilman Harold Wales also took issue with the city being asked for the infrastructure improvements when it had agreed to deeding the tract over to the state.

However, Rich said the good news is that when the state repays the 30-year bond issue on the health department building ownership of the structure would return to the city and county.

Councilmen, among which is Ronnie Marks, said these details were outlined without city input and then relayed to Rich to deliver to the council.

“We’ve got a breakdown in communication between the city and county,” said Marks. “We’re not working together professionally to get things done. When we’re involved in recruitment, this does not look good.”

“I’m still waiting to get the first call, for them (the county) to say, Harold, come up here and let’s discuss this,” said Wales.

Councilman Johnny Crutcher said he also wants the city-county split in expenses and profits from land sales all in a legal document.

“We need a resolution that we get half of every lot that is sold and we are half owners of the health department,” said Crutcher.

City Attorney Shane Black said it would be a “50-50.”

“If the city doesn’t pay for its part of the infrastructure, the county will ask you to pay after the lots are sold,” said Black.

Crutcher recommended taking the city’s half of the of the infrastructure costs out of reserve funds, and then as tracts are sold, to replenish the fund.

Councilwoman Milly Caudle said she thinks that is the best because of inflationary costs over time.



Dialysis drivers

The second issue to rankle councilmen was a proposal by the Limestone County Commission to turn over transportation of dialysis patients to Athens-Limestone Hospital and the city and county each appropriate $60,000 to the hospital.

Last week, representatives of the Athens-Limestone Kidney Association approached the commission and said the association is no longer allowing volunteers to drive patients to dialysis because a Huntsville volunteer driver was sued by a patient’s family when the patient fell while exiting the van.

The Kidney Association said it could not afford liability insurance for the drivers.

Kidney Association member spokeswoman Janice Moore brought the county’s proposal to the full council; however, Mayor Dan Williams and attorney Shane Black have met with the association and Seibert.

Caudle asked Moore to see an association transportation budget.

“It seems like we’re the last men on the totem pole to be informed,” said Crutcher. “I’m not going to vote for more than the $2,000 we already appropriate. I won’t vote until I see something in black and white.”

“The mayor, Mr. Crutcher, Ms. Moore and me and the county and hospital all need to get together so we’re all on the same page,” said Gill.

Caudle said there is a “general sentiment of we know this is a critical service.”

Audience member Jim Ernest spoke up to say that his elderly mother has been on kidney dialysis for a number of years and now lives at Limestone Health Facility. He said she requires dialysis three times a week and each trip from to the Dialysis Center by ambulance would cost $500.

“That would cost me out-of-pocket $1,500 per week to transport my mother from Hobbs Street to the Dialysis Center,” said Ernest. “It’s sad that as a city council you’ve been put in this situation, but I’m asking you to do your due diligence and get the ball rolling.”

Gill agreed. “This is what’s on the table,” he said. “We need to deal with it and get it moving.”

The council agreed that Gill and Crutcher would represent the council and accompany the mayor and the city attorney to meet with hospital CEO Cary Payne and Ambulance Director Mike West and Seibert “as soon as possible.”

See Wednesday’s News Courier for a synopsis of other action taken by the City Council.