Ways to make the Highway 52/53 four-way stop safer also discussed

By RANDALL ALLEN

Horizon Reporter

CELINA-The potential reopening of the local hospital headlined the latest City of Celina meeting last week, while discussion on making the four-way stop at the intersection of highways 52 and 53 safer and the elimination of tiny home restrictions also occurred, along with other business.

Dean Otey of Boa Vida Healthcare spoke to the board of mayor and aldermen about plans to reopen the hospital, which would initially include a clinic, laboratory, and radiology unit.

“What we are trying to do is get a nonprofit set up and applying for a medicare number,” Otey said.  “That takes 90 days.

“Realistically, we are looking at a minimum of six months.  After you get your number, then you get your contracts with commercial plans and that just takes a long time.”

He then spoke about what services would be available at the facility.

“We are trying to open a clinic, try to get people in,” Otey said.  “We will then open up a lab and radiology, as we can find staff.”

City leaders then heard about the challenges of opening the new facility, including staffing. 

“You have to have this level of radiology, certified people, for the lab, and finding those people can be difficult,” Otey explained.  “That is why we are starting off with a clinic.

“Getting people accustomed to the facility and taking care of people as we can.”

Reopening the facility will take some time. as Otey explained to the board. 

“One of the reasons we are going nonprofit, we are going to try to get some federal and state grants that will help subsidize,” he said. “It is a slow process.

“I know (hospital owner) Johnny (Presley) tried to open it a few years ago, and that didn’t work out.  We are trying to figure out funding to where when we do open it, it can stay open.”

The healthcare facility has been sitting idle for over four years now, after closing for a second time in August of 2020.

Presley shuttered the doors following four months of operation, after marking the end to a 14-month local healthcare hiatus when he reopened the facility in April of the same year.

Presley purchased the hospital for $200,000 from Cookeville Regional Medical Center, an entity which ceased their operation here on March 1, 2019.

Other business

In other business, mayor Luke Collins updated the board and audience about plans to make the highway 52 and highway 53 intersection safer.

“The most dangerous location in Celina is the intersection on Highway 52,” Collins explained.  “The reason is, it is someone from out of town driving a big truck coming off the hill from Livingston, and they just run the four way stop.”

The mayor then explained his plan to make the intersection safer. 

“We have been in communication with TDOT, Representative Kelly Keisling, and Senator Ken Yager, and they have asked us to have a formal resolution and vote,” Collins said.  “What we would like to do is put some rumble strips and a caution light further up the hill, and even possibly a stop light.”

Alderman Justin Rich made a motion requesting TDOT to place rumble strips, a caution light, and a stop light at the four-way intersection of Highway 52 and Highway 53.  Alderman Kenny Westmoreland seconded the motion, and it passed 3-0.

Alderman also abolished tiny home restrictions within city limits.

Rich made a motion to approve the second reading to eliminate tiny home restrictions, alderman Brittany Kerr seconded the motion, and it passed 3-0.

After the meeting adjourned, sewer plant operator Jason Hamilton gave the aldermen an update about an ARP grant and phases of the project.

“Oakley Hall came to visit and follow up on our action plan from 2019,” Hamilton said, before explaining, at the time of the state official’s visit, Phase 1 to bypass a sewer line was not complete. 

“We got that Phase 1 finished not long ago, and we are beginning Phase 2,” Hamilton said.

The ARP grant and sewer projects are necessary steps to help the city get off their self-imposed sewer moratorium.

Phase 2 of the sewer project will allow sewer operators to “bypass pond 1 if needed,” Hamilton explained.