News 2011

Summer Enrichment Camp 2011 begins today at the Cannon County CommunityCenter. The camp runs today until Friday. Children can be enriched
through a variety of experiences. The Camp will take the participants to
places of high education, historic county landmarks and will include a
tour Wednesday morning here at the WBRY Studios. Physical fitness classes
and sports training is also part of the camp. The Camp begins at 7:45
each weekday morning and ends at 3:00 The Cost is $60 per student and can
be paid when participants register today at 7:45.
Summer Enrichment Camp will also be in session July 18th through the 22nd
at the Cannon County Community Center

State Senator Mae Beavers and Representative Mark Pody announced last weekthat two Cannon County Arts organizations will recieve a combined total of
$43,800 in grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The Arts Center of
Cannon County will receive $34,800 and the Cannon Association of Craft
Artsts will receive $9000 for the fiscal year 2012 which extends from July
1,2011 to June 30,2012
The Tennessee Arts Commission’s matching grants are mostly made possible
through proceeds from the purchase of collegiate/university personalized
and specialty motor vehicle license plates but is also assisted by federal
dollars from the Nation Endowment for the Arts. The Commission will award
over 950 community grants through the 2012 fiscal year, totalling 7.3
million dollars. The allocation process involves a review by citizen
advisory panels made up of Tennesseans with expertise in appropriate
disciplines and a final review by the full 15 member Tennessee Arts
Commission.

The Cannon County Board Of Commissioners are meeting tonight in a specialsession at 7:00 at the courtroom of the Cannon County Courthouse
On the agenda for tonights meeting the Commissioners will look to approve
the litter grant resolution, continuing budget resolution, budget
amendments of the County General, Solid Waste, Highway Department,
Industrial Board, and Board of Education. The Commissioners will also
look to approve the strategic plan for the 3 Star Yearly Certification,
Title IV Resolution, as well as a resolution for Trustee to transmit fees
monthly.
Also on the agenda the contract for Jail Medical Services is up for
approval as well as the 12 year Capitol Outlay Note for Jail Repairs.

“We are to the point of cutting services to children”Those were the words of Cannon County School’s Director Barbara Parker as she reviewed the General School Budget request with the Cannon County Budget Committee Thursday night at the Cannon County Courthouse.
Before the Committee reviewed the School Budget Request, Cannon County Trustee Wayne Prater approached the committee and let them know that he went through his budget again and found some areas in which he recommended the Committee cut to save even more money.
One line item was Dues and Memberships in the amount of $383.00 The line item is shared by five different county offices for a total of $1915.00. Mr. Prater stated that he got around to asking the various offices about this particular line item and found out it dealt with dues for being a member of the County Officials Association Of Tennessee. Most of the State Trustees felt they could run their offices without being a member of this organization. As a result Mr Prater recommended the line item be canceled. The Committee agreed and this cut $1915 out of the budget. Other cuts Wayne Prater recommended to the Committee included in the line items of office supplies.
The office spent only $2379 of the budgeted $2500. Mr. Prater believes the office can get buy on $2000 for the new fiscal year.
Line item of printing stationary and forms were budgeted last year at $1000 however the trustee office didn’t use any money designated in that line item so he felt that he could cut the budgeted amount back to $500. Postage could also be cut back to $500.00 after this year with the Trustee’s office spending $4173.34 out of $4200. They won’t need as much postage this year as the did last year He recommended that the committee cut the postage $500 to $3700.
Maintenance Agreement line item is for the local government computer system. The company has sent them a statement for this fiscal year. The Company is responsible however to fix and maintain the computer system. As a result of software upgrades in the system, Mr. Prater pointed out that the cash journals, receiving books and other books will no longer have to be bought as the software will cover these different books and journals with a complete back up of the system to ensure the safety of these records. The Legal Notices Recording and Court Costs line item, the Trustee office only spent $275 out of $1200 budgeted. Most of the costs incurred comes from running notices regarding the people delinquent on their taxes. The Trustee’s office chose not to do run the names of the people in the paper as there was a chance that a mistake could be made. The County Clerk and Master could run the names and collect fees whereas the County Trustee.
All in all the County Trustee took off $2900 just of their budget alone
The Cutting continued with the School Budget Request as Director of Cannon County’s Schools Barbara Parker presented the General School Budget to the Committee.
Ms. Parker reminded the committee that last year the school had to go into reserves to fund the budget and in order for the State of Tennessee to approve their budget the system would have to have three percent of the total budget in their reserve fund as it is used for running expenses.
After looking at various options which included asking for 24 cents to get the reserve fund back up to the three percent and balance it out, asking for $1.11 to get the schools reserve fund out of the whole period or just go through and do some cuts.
As a result cuts won out as there were many line items cut from last years budget. The budget was cut in the line item of equipment and office supplies as far as the fiscal consultant would let them Other cuts meant the Schools were to the point of cutting services to children. “We’re no longer just saying we’ll cut out equipment, office supplies, a new bus, a new roof or any new construction,” Ms. Parker stated “We are way past that point now with this budget to the point of what we cut goes to the classroom, so you’re taking away from children.”
Ms. Parker told the committee that the state has mandated a 1.6 percent increase on the state portion of the teacher’s salary. The state is covering $83,000 of the salary and the school system will need about $105,000 because there is no matching in that and there are several positions over what the Basic Education Program pays for.
Based on the reaction at the middle school forums over the last few months, several people in attendance stated that they wanted the small schools and are willing to pay for it so the budget was based upon keeping the grammar schools fully staffed. Four high school teachers resigned or retired for various reason. There was a music teacher, English Teacher, Science and Spanish Teacher. Ms. Parker looked at the numbers of students in the years ahead and realized that they didn’t have to fill those three positions, with the only position being filled would be that one of the Spanish Teacher. Three employees have left the central office during the last school year. The duties of those employees were divided up amongst other employees at the Central Office.
So when the Teacher Salary line 7,110,116.00 it includes the three teachers cut but because of the 1.6% required increase, because of the automatic step ups from the negotiated contract and there are salary portions of that contract based on years experience teachers can get a dollar amount increase every year up to twenty years.
Those over 20 years would get a certain supplement based on percentage every year until retirement. If the local asked for a 3 percent increase and got a three percent in salary step up, then those over 20 years of experience would get that three percent also onto that supplement.
The line item was just left even because of the required increases there even cutting three teachers.
The bottom line next year predicted $460,771 around 3 percent of the total budget and the schools hope the State will approve the budget.
The School System is asking for an amount equal to four cents and what that will do is to get the Schools reserves at a three percent level.
Ms. Parker said the Committee doesn’t have to give four cents on the tax break as there are a lot of line items where the Committee can increase like interest in penalties, local sales tax, TVA revenue sharing instead of a property tax increase.
The Schools have been paying $250,000 off of debt services every year. They are now to a point where they can’t afford to pay that. Ms. Parker said that if the schools were relieved of that debt, then that would cover what we might need for the other.
The first page requests a increase in property tax to reflect the four cents although that’s what the school is asking the committee to fund.
Another thing about funding a budget Ms. Parker pointed out, Maintenance of Effort is required. The Schools have not actually gotten all the money that has been promised in the budget as revenue from the county during the fiscal year.
Committee Member Kevin George started asking questions. In the line item of County Property Tax. 2010-2011 was budgeted revenue of 1,740,398. 2011-2012 budgeted revenue is 1,865,512 which is a $125,000 increase. Mr. George noted that it was more than 4 cents and it was more like 6.4 cents. Ms. Parker thought the number was based on the figure that the schools are receiving for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Ms. Parker said that they are not through operating on the budget for the 201-2011 fiscal year and won’t be through operating on the budget until in July. They are expecting the current property tax to be more than the current $1,740,398 that was estimated this year.
Mr. George also asked Ms. Parker if she knew how much money the School System needed to get their budget approved by the state. Ms. Parker replied she needed to have $79,808.
Committee Member Clint Higgins asked about the increase in salaries. Ms. Parker said that all pay increases are mandated 1.6% and their step up. Then Mr. Higgins asked about travel budgets. Ms Parker explained that it includes travel from school to school, any conferences, and overnight stay. Mr. Higgins said that should be a part of the salary since it’s not a hourly position. Mr. Higgins about cutting the Teacher Assistant for A Vocational Education Program. Then he asked about the $20,000 cut for custodial personnel. Ms. Parker explained that there were two custodians in the school system that either did not show up for work, or a substitute custodian. They have not filled those positions. After asking about the travel line item of $14,000.00. Ms. Parker stated that 8 people use the travel line item expenses. Because of the mandated pay increase of 1.6% for the teachers. Ms. Parker said that it was not fair to give the certified employees and an increase and not give the non-certified employees an increase.
So the budget also included a 3% increase for all non-certified employees. Committee Kevin George stated that the rest of the county employees aren’t getting a 3% pay increase and asked what the budget looked like without the 3% increase. Ms. Parker said she will get recalculate the numbers for the next meeting. Bus Drivers did not get budgeted a 3% raise. County Bus Drivers get a salary in 5 year increments. Contracted Bus Drivers get paid by the seat and mileage. All figures were kept the same as the 2010-2011 budget. Increases were given in the line items of vehicles, while the budget was cut in the line items of tires and tubes and other charges.
Ms. Parker went through some of the grants the School System has received. Some of the grants are based on the school system spending the money first and getting a reimbursement. The fuel line item was talked about. With fuel prices forecasted to drop down, the committee asked if they could trim some of the request on that line item. Ms. Parker said they will take a look at it as they are not even finished using the line item for 2010-2011 fiscal year.
The Committee ended the budget request review of the school system by setting a July 5th date with the Cannon County Schools to bring back the newer figures of what the budget would look like without the increase.
Last week the committee had questioned why there was around a $200,000 difference from what the Cannon County Ambulance Service’s revenue vs the expenses were.
Several surrounding counties were getting different reimbursements from Medicare and other insurance programs. Cannon County Ambulance Service Director Ricky Cope
explained that Medicare when it comes to base rate, everyone gets the same. Cannon County is considered Urban because people drive through Woodbury to Murfreesboro to work and as a result the Ambulance Service only gets $4.00 a mile through Medicare costs. Most counties have a bigger volume of calls, charge more for their transports. Increase in rates is possible except that it takes a while to get everything processed especially through Medicare and other insurance companies. Some companies only pay a percentage. The Committee asked that since there was a lesser number of calls, if the ambulance service could reduce personnel. It was pointed out by Mr. Cope that they can’t do that due to the fact that the ambulance makes longer hospital runs to Rutherford and Davidson County. Volume of transports and runs involving Medicare are the two biggest hinders of the Ambulance Department bringing in the amount of revenue vs the expenses.
Last week the Committee talked about denying the budget requested increase of the guards line item for the Cannon County Jail. Cannon County Sheriff Darrell Young added almost $60,000 to add two additional guards for the jail. Sheriff Young invited the Budget Committee to come take a look at the jail operations and see how being understaffed effects the jail system. Sheriff Young says the need for these two additional jailers is a safety issue. The jail is overcrowded and if something happens, Sheriff Young says and the prisoners sue, he feels they are going to win. They are currently pulling in employees from other departments to help supervise the jail.
County Commissioner and Woodbury Police Sergeant Kevin Mooney ham was in attendance and was asked his thoughts. Kevin responded “When that jail was built back in the 1990’s it was a band-aid. We done just what we had to do to get buy and it’s never been staffed the way it should have been staffed from the get go” Kevin then said “He needs the help!” Sheriff Young reiterated his invitation to come visit the jail and see what the staff have to go through. Kevin Mooney ham then said “The first place we as a commission always want to look to cut is public service. That’s the most needed thing there is” Mooney ham also added that public service are the first ones that people call in emergency situation. The Committee will talk more about the line item at a later time.
The next Budget Committee meeting is Thursday June 30th at 6:00 at the Cannon County Courthouse.

The Cannon County Lionettes finished basketball camp this summer 26-4.The team ended the basketball camp at MTSU where in two different camps
the team went undefeated. The last day of camp saw the Lionettes beat
Rhea County, Knoxville Farragut and Lincoln County. The Lionettes wins
this week have been by convincing margins including a 16 point win against
Lincoln County.

The Free Breakfast Program offered for the children of Cannon Countyby the First United Methodist Church on
502 West High Street has changed the times for breakfast. When the
program started the times the doors opened for the children of Cannon
County to take part in the breakfast program was from 8:00-9:00 however
officials decided that due to summer school hours to move the time for the
breakfast up to 7:30-8:30. This will accomodate the students that are in
summer school. The breakfast is offered Monday Tuesday Thursday and
Friday for the kids in Cannon County for the entire summer.

The Cannon County Budget Committee will be meeting tonight to crunchnumbers again. The majority of the meeting tonight will be to go over the
General Purpose Budget of the Cannon County School System. Estimated
Expenditures for the 2011-2012 school year is $15,142,308 with the
Estimated Ending Balance after revenues and reserves is $460,771.00 The
meeting is set for 6:00 tonight at the Cannon County Courthouse

The Cannon County Summer Reading Program comes to a close today with it’s Summer ReadingProgram Party at Dillon Park this afternoon. The program featured past
performances from the Woodbury Dance Studio, kids group the Zinghoppers
and the Interactive Native American Educational Program. At the reading
party program today, people will have the opportunity to enjoy carnival
games as well as hamburgers and hot dogs. The event goes from 4-6 this
afternoon.

Capella Healthcare today announced the execution of a definitive Purchase Agreement for a subsidiary that owns a majority interest in White County Community Hospital, LLC, (WCCH) to acquire a 60% ownership interest in Cannon County Hospital, LLC, (CCH) which owns and operates DeKalb Community Hospital (DCH) in Smithville, TN, and Stones River Hospital (SRH) in Woodbury, TN. The transaction is subject to customary federal and state regulatory approvals.Physician investors own the balance of CCH’s equity. The minority owners of CCH and WCCH will contribute their ownership interests in the respective joint ventures to a new entity, which, other than Capella is the only member of these joint ventures.
Following the closing of the transaction, which is planned for June 30, Capella Healthcare will manage all three hospitals pursuant to management agreements. Bill Little, who has served as CEO for the two CCH facilities since July 2009, will assume responsibility for all three hospitals as Market CEO. Current CCH Chief Financial Officer Sarah Clark will become Market CFO for the new entity.
“We look forward to welcoming these outstanding providers to our growing family of hospitals,” said Dan Slipkovich, CEO of Capella Healthcare. “These two hospitals have a rich history of serving their communities and working collaboratively to provide high quality care and excellent service. Along with our physician partners, we look forward to continuing to expand services throughout the region as we build upon this outstanding network of providers to meet the needs of the entire Upper Cumberland Plateau.”
“We are excited about our opportunity to collaborate with Capella and jointly help to lead in molding the future development of healthcare in the Upper Cumberland area,” said Hugh Don Cripps, M.D., a member of the Cannon County Hospital Board and one of the physician partners. “We are blessed to be able to continue to be led so ably by CEO Bill Little and CFO Sarah Clark.”
The addition of these facilities expands Capella’s Tennessee presence to five hospitals. In addition to White County Community Hospital in Sparta, Capella also owns River Park Hospital in McMinnville and Grandview Medical Center in Jasper.
About Cannon County Hospital, LLC
Situated in the heart of the state approximately halfway between Chattanooga and Nashville, the two CCH hospitals have worked collaboratively since both became owned by the same group of investors, primarily physicians, in July 2006. There are approximately 80 physicians on the combined medical staffs, representing nearly every medical specialty.
Established in 1980, SRH is a 60-bed hospital accredited by The Joint Commission. Located at 324 Doolittle Road in Woodbury, the hospital provides 24-hour emergency care as well as surgical procedures, same day outpatient services, cardiac rehabilitation services, and comprehensive imaging services. Through the Riverside Center, a full range of mental health services for older adults is available, with intensive inpatient services at a 14-bed gero-psychiatric unit at the hospital and outpatient care at a separate facility in Murfreesboro.
Established in 1969, DCH is a 71-bed hospital also accredited by The Joint Commission. It is located at 520 West Main Street in Smithville, offering 24-hour emergency services and comprehensive diagnostic, medical, surgical and rehabilitative services. The hospital has enjoyed a long history of medical excellence having been named one of the 100 Top Hospitals® in America by Thomson Reuters (formerly Solucient) for five years.
About White County Community Hospital
Founded in 1929 by Dr. E.B. Clark, White County Community Hospital is a 60-bed facility accredited by The Joint Commission and certified by the American Heart Association as a “Get with the Guidelines” hospital. Located at 401 Sewell Road in Sparta, the hospital provides a full range of medical services, including 24-hour emergency services and comprehensive diagnostic, medical, surgical and rehabilitative services as well as a gero-psychiatric unit.
About Capella Healthcare
Capella Healthcare partners with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care and exceptional service. Based in Franklin, Tenn., Capella owns and/or operates 13 general acute-care hospitals in seven states. With the philosophy that all healthcare is local, Capella collaborates with each hospital’s medical staff, board and community leadership to take care to the next level. The company has access to significant leadership and financial resources, reinvesting 100% of net cash flow into its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities.

Judge Susan Melton presided over Cannon County General Sessions Court on Tuesday. Some of the results from the various cases which appeared on the docket included:Joseph Tyler Green was bound over to the September, 2011 term of the Cannon County Grand Jury. He is charged with carrying a weapon and evading arrest.
Tony McPeake was bound over to the September, 2011 term of the Cannon County Grand Jury. He is charged with failure to register as a sex offender.
Robert Brown pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was extended and he was ordered to pay the court costs.
Harley Brown pled guilty to the charge of simple possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days in the county jail. That sentence was suspended upon an equal amount of time on probation, paying a $250.00 fine and paying the court costs.
Devin Ray Carter pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was extended and he was ordered to serve 30 days in jail.
Cory Chapman pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was revoked and he was ordered to serve his entire sentence.
William Dickens pled guilty to the charge of driving without a license. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon an equal amount of time on probation, paying the court costs and paying a $2.00 fine.
Courtne Elrod pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was extended and he was ordered to serve 60 days in jail. In another case, Elrod pled guilty to the charge of disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon an equal amount of time on probation, paying the court costs and paying a $50.00 fine.
Jeremy Galvin’s motion to reduce costs or fines was denied by Judge Melton.
Jerry Hill pled guilty to the charge of simple possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days in the county jail. That sentence was suspended upon an equal amount of time on probation, paying a $250.00 fine and paying the court costs.
Jonathan Kestner pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was extended and he was ordered to pay the court costs. In another case, Kestner’s charge of domestic assault was retired for 12 months upon good and lawful conduct and no assaultive behavior toward the victim or anyone.
Charles N. May pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was revoked and he was ordered to serve his entire sentence.
Jason Ostby pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was extended and he was ordered to pay the court costs.
Kory Smith pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was extended and he was ordered to serve 30 days in jail.
Regina Smith pled guilty under judicial diversion to simple possession of marijuana. She was placed on probation for 11 months, 29 days, ordered to pay a $250.00 fine and ordered to pay the court costs.
Deborah Smithson pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. Her probation was revoked and she was ordered to serve her entire sentence.
Benjamin D. Wilder pled guilty to the charge of violation of probation. His probation was extended and he was ordered to serve 30 days in jail