News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Monterey Aldermen reversed course Monday night, approving a five-year lease with Monterey Medical Clinic inside the Cate Gil Building.
The lease comes just a month ago after the Board of Aldermen voted in favor of removing the clinic, allowing the Putnam County Health Department to expand services inside the facility. Monterey Medical Clinic Owner Johnny Presley said the clinic is looking to obtain medical specialists to provide additional services. He said the clinic is willing to make space for the health department.
“We can bring them into our building and continue to let you all let the health department if they need space utilize that front space where everybody is benefiting out of this,” Presley said. “And ultimately the citizens of Monterey benefit the most out of it.”
Presley said he purchased Monterey Medical about a year and a half ago and had no idea the lease was an issue.
“It’s probably my ignorance I didn’t know because we bought the company that the company had a lease I just assumed that the lease continued on,” Presley said. “So that’s probably my ignorance in the sense that I didn’t come and ask the city for change there.”
Presley said the clinic is open five days a week and that a five-year lease would be better for the clinic.
“We see about 20 patients a day and we are doing everything that we can to add and grow to this community,” Presley said. “We just want to continue to be apart of that and we would like to have a long-term lease to where we know that investing money here we got a place to be.”
In addition to renewing the lease, Presley asked the board if they would supply a letter of support as the clinic has applied for a $2 million grant to bring neurology and cardiology specialists to the clinic. Presley said a letter is required for the grant application. The board approved the letter of support.
In other business, the board approved an amendment to the town’s zoning code in regards to short-term rental properties.
Mayor Alex Garcia said he addressed the dead end on Poplar Street. Garcia said at the end of the street if you turn left there was a pile of dirt that has formed a ramp and could be dangerous to people driving at night. Garcia said he has already addressed the issue.
The board approved a rezoning for the Joe Stephens property. Garcia said the property will go from a R1 zone to an I1 lite industrial zone. The board approved to advertise and take applications for a codes director.
