CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Montgomery County Commission voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to support two proposed new hospitals in Clarksville.

Ascension Saint Thomas and TriStar Hospitals have announced plans to build full-service hospitals with ERs in Clarksville, pending the approval of state Certificates of Need (CON) by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission in a hearing on July 23. With the resolution passed on Monday, the county is now formally supporting each CON request. The county’s vote is not needed for state approval, but it could be an important show of support.

‘It is not up to Tennova’

Before the vote took place, Commissioner Ryan Gallant highlighted a Clarksville Now report that Tennova had sent letters to the state opposing the proposed new hospitals.

“It is not up to Tennova to dictate who can and can’t do business in our county,” Gallant said at Monday’s commission meeting. “When we’re looking at a population increase that’s about to surpass Chattanooga, and Chattanooga has 11 hospitals with four general hospitals and we have one, we need expansion in our healthcare sector.

“Our community demands it; our community needs it. If Tennova truly cared about the healthcare of our community, they would have expanded their services throughout the county to accommodate our growing community. They haven’t; they should’ve, because we wouldn’t be talking about this right now. It’s uncalled for to put out a letter saying St. Thomas can’t do business here, TriStar can’t do business here. Of course they can. … We need these establishments here.”

Gallant then urged everyone at the meeting to attend the CON hearing coming later this month in Nashville.

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‘I fully support the Certificate of Need requests’

Following last weeks’ informal commission meeting, Mayor Wes Golden told Clarksville Now, “The announcement of two potential new hospitals in strategic locations in Montgomery County is a major step toward ensuring our growing community has access to the care and additional medical services we need close to home.

“Expanding health care is a priority for our residents. I fully support the Certificate of Need requests from both Ascension Saint Thomas and TriStar, as each plays a vital role in meeting the current and future healthcare demands of Montgomery County,” said Golden.

The resolution passed unanimously. On June 24, a similar resolution by the Clarksville City Council was approved, also unanimously.

The CON hearing will be Wednesday, July 23, at 9 a.m. at 425 N. Representative John Lewis Way, Senate Hearing Room I, Cordell Hull State Legislative Building, Nashville. The meeting is open to the public. Public input on the plans can be emailed to HSDA.Staff@tn.gov

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Anonymous donation of $300,000 approved

An anonymous donation of $300,000 was also approved on Monday night as part of the consent agenda. Golden previously said the full $300,000 must be used exclusively by Montgomery County Animal Care and Control as part of the donation restrictions.

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