Following a productive 80-minute meeting yesterday morning, the Greater Gilmer County Joint Development Authority had agreed to move forward with a letter of appeal to the Georgia Department of Community Health.

The decision comes after the DOCH gave a proverbial stamp of approval to Piedmont on its plans for the former North Georgia Medical Center.

Members of the JDA discussed their many angles in pursuing the appeal, which will help keep an active Certificate of Need for Gilmer County if the Authority wins the appeal. The deadline for the letter to be filed is June 23, after which a 90-day review process will take place.

Authority member Travis Crouch echoed some of the figures that were quoted at the recent Gilmer County Board of Commissioners meeting. The equation of a population of 35,000 residents and 15,000 emergency department visits a year for a single rural county in the state of Georgia to break even was used as an example, which was determined by a report from Governor Nathan Deal’s Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee. All of the other members of the JDA praised Crouch on his extensive research in determining how to approach the appeal, while also discussing the idea of a potential online petition to show stronger opposition to the closing of the hospital.

Sadler Named New Executive Director; Audit Results Revealed

The Greater Gilmer County Joint Development Authority has officially welcomed Debbie Sadler as its new Executive Director. (Contributed photo)

Other business at the meeting included the introduction of the new Executive Director of the JDA, Debbie Sadler. From Waxahachie, TX, Sadler brings the JDA both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the University of Texas, a certification as a Public Manager and a Certificated Economic Developer Designation that was awarded by the International Economic Development Council.

The members of the JDA expressed their enthusiasm of her appointment at the meeting and Sadler echoed the excitement about futuring Gilmer County and its growth. The JDA will hold a welcome party for Sadler June 23 at the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, from 5-7 p.m.

Audit results for 2015 were also entered into the records. The JDA ended the year with a balance of $51,778 in assets and $70,400 revenues, while only spending $18,622 in expenses.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on a regular meeting schedule. The JDA concluded that a regular schedule will have meetings fall on the first Monday of the second month of each quarter.

Look for more information in our previous article and interview involving the Greater Gilmer JDA and the Gilmer County Commissioners.