Local & State Headlines

Albany won’t restrict health choices

• Albany’s city manager nixes talk of an exclusive health care agreement for city employees.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — While the Dougherty County Commission ponders granting exclusivity in health care coverage for its employees to Phoebe Health Partners in exchange for a higher discount rate, Albany City Manager Alfred Lott made it clear Tuesday that there would be no such agreement with the city.

“In our negotiations, we are not looking for an exclusive contract with anybody,” Lott told commissioners during a discussion of changes in the group health plan that city, county and Water, Gas & Light Commission employees are a part of. “Health care is a very personal issue, and we don’t intend to tell our employees what physicians they can see.”

Later, at the conclusion of the commission’s morning work session, Lott reiterated his point.

“In our discussions with (consultant) ShawHankins LLC, the issue of exclusive coverage (with PHP) in exchange for a 30 percent discount came up,” the city manager said. “But that’s something we’re not going to do. Health care is a very personal issue, and we are not going to dictate to our workers who they can and can’t see for their health issues.

“My philosophy is that you look out for the people who work hard, and we have some outstanding people. Health care is a part of our benefits package, and for the purpose of the morale of our employees, we’ll be satisfied with our current discounts (18 percent). (An exclusivity agreement) is not worth the turmoil.”

Like the county and the Dougherty School Board had done Monday, the city agreed to lower its millage rate slightly to account for an increase in the tax digest. Finance Director Kris Newton suggested, and the commission gave preliminary approval to, a 0.002 percent decrease in the millage rate, from 9.159 to 9.157.

“Based on the taxpayer bill of rights, we must accept the additional tax funding ($320,063) or roll back the millage rate to basically balance out our taxes,” Newton said. “If we accept the money, we must hold three public hearings and advertise in the paper. The net loss in tax revenue (from the rollback) would amount to $3,200, so I would recommend accepting the rollback.”

Commissioners also OK’d a proposal to grant $183,424 in HUD set-aside funds to Mount Olive Community Outreach Center for use in a low-income housing rehab project; accepted Commissioner Tommie Postell’s recommendation that Sarah Kuck of Lee County be appointed to the Chehaw Park Authority; approved the HUD-required formation of a citizens’ Transitional Housing Advisory Board; and accepted a Georgia Department of Transportation matching grant of $35,848 for improvements of Taxiway B at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport.

On Code Enforcement Director Mike Tilson’s recommendation, commissioners also tentatively voted to move forward with occupancy license revocation of the Brick House Production/Brick City establishment at 1708 Schilling Ave.

Tilson noted that, among other charges, the establishment had been cited for selling alcohol without a license in February, March and June.

“I recommend that forfeiture (of occupancy license) proceedings begin at this establishment,” Tilson said. When asked if action could be taken to immediately shut the business down, City Attorney Nathan Davis said procedure called for a two-day notice to the proprietor.

“Then I move that police monitor activity at the establishment until we can take such action at our July 23 (business) meeting,” Postell said.

The commission gave initial approval to one-day alcohol licenses for fundraisers by the Phoebe Foundation and the American Lung Association, OK’d a license application for TaQueria La Lupita at 2427-G Sylvester Road and denied an application for a license request for Mugsy’s at 2510 Archwood Drive because of the city’s 1,000-foot proximity rule.

Commissioners suggested proposed owner Mike Rodefer reapply for a license stating that his establishment would be a restaurant after Rodefer protested the ruling.

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