Council rezones property for new DCH facility By John Cargile Gazette Staff Writer NORTHPORT – The Northport City Council paved the way for a new DCH-Northport skilled nursing and rehabilitation center Monday night to be built near the local hospital. In a unanimous decision, the Council voted to rezone 5.6 acres of property owned by DCH Health System for the $12 million facility. It was zoned for residential only prior to the vote. The center will be built and operated by Northport Holding LLC, an affiliate of NHS Management LLC. The 5.6-acre site sits directly behind the hospital’s emergency room parking lot. Two residential homes sit on the property, but one is expected to be demolished before construction begins, said Flora Gay, new director of the planning department. Sammy Watson, director of community relations for DCH and Vice President John Burchfield of a new corporation – NHS Management, LLC – were on hand to answer questions. “We are very excited,” Burchfield said “We appreciate the councils support and our long history in Northport and are looking forward to the future.”The 50,000-square-foot facility will have 78 private bedrooms and will serve as an alternative for people who need rehabilitative care, Burchfield said. Unlike traditional nursing homes, the rehabilitation center will offer speech, occupational and physical therapy to help patients recovering from accidents, strokes or other major injuries or illnesses. Burchfield said the facility will not be a nursing home, but for patients who will eventually return home after a short stay. “There is a huge rehabilitation demand out there,” Burchfield said. “We do a booming business with the elderly 65 and above who come to us for short-term stay rather than stay in the hospital.”Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon said he supports the building of the center, which will employ 70 to 80 people. “This is going to be a great benefit for our city,” Herndon said as he asked for the councils support on the project. Burchfield said he hopes construction on the facility can begin within six months. It will take 12-15 months to complete, depending on the weather. The Alabama Certificate of Need Review Board in Montgomery also must approve the project. By law, the board approves new hospitals, medical facilities and expansions after determining there is a need in the community. The Northport company owns 45 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in four states, including three in Northport — Park Manor, Glen Haven and Hunter Creek. In other council news, the Council approved a resolution to condemn property for Fire Station No. 2 on Highway 69 North. The property, which is adjacent to the city-owned property for the fire station has a vacant house sitting on it, and City Attorney Ron Davis has been negotiating the purchase. Apparently, the owner of the property and the city has not reached a settlement for the purchase. The Council went into executive session to discuss the price offered by the city and what the owner wants for it. “State law allows us to go into executive session as to the value of the land,” Davis said. Davis did not disclose the price of the property the owner wants or what the city is offering. Davis said the property has been appraised. In other news, City Administrator Scott Collins was asked what the next step will be in regard to a new city school system. It’s been a hot topic since it was introduced to the public last August. Ron Myrick appeared before the City Council in December to explain what it will cost the city to have its own school system. Myrick was hired for $10,000 to conduct a feasibility study for the city of Northport. “We are two months away from several community meetings,” Collins said. Dennis Hambright, a Northport resident, has constantly challenged the Council to allow citizens to vote on a referendum if it ever comes up for a vote. Councilwoman Judy Hayes said Monday night that she will only vote for what the citizens want and, if, the citizens ask for the right to vote, she will support it. Hayes is against a new school system due to the number of people in her district who do not want to separate from the Tuscaloosa County School System. ..
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:09:05 +0000
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