Staff report

Rather than flocking to Jackson for the annual Panola County Legislative Reception, guests at this year’s event had to drive no further than the Batesville Holiday Inn, where events all day Thursday focused on the future of Panola County.

The Panola Partnership, the county’s chamber of commerce, departed from tradition this year, planning informational sessions with representatives from health care, transportation and economic development for the morning.

In the afternoon guests were invited to play golf or shoot skeets.

Thursday evening, a reception honored local legislators at the Holiday Inn.

For several decades local sponsors have hosted an annual open house at the Trade Mart building in Jackson during the legislative session. The Partnership announced its plans several months ago to move the party to Batesville.

In opening remarks, Panola Partnership CEO Sonny Simmons referred to the morning’s speakers as “experts in their fields” who would give the attendees a strong base of knowledge in the three topics of discussion.Healthcare

Tri-Lakes Medical Center administrator Greg Cantrell described his company’s movement of the local hospital from bankruptcy a year ago to more sound financial footing after his company bought it in September 2009.

“We’ve had a very solid first year,” he said.

He cited patient approval ratings, once about 45 percent, which have increased to more than 80 percent today for the emergency room and patient services.

Improvements made in the first year have included reorganization of the emergency room, renovation and expansion of the hospital’s West Campus Behavioral Health Center, and the purchase of new technology and diagnostic equipment.

“We’ve focused on doing the things we can do very well,” Cantrell said.

Part of his challenge for the future involves changes coming in 2014 with the implementation of the healthcare reform legislation passed this year by Congress.

“It’s here,” he said. “We’ve got to figure out how to work within these parameters.”

Sharing information from an insurance company’s perspective was Steve Armstrong, agent with Morgan White Group Benefits, who explained health insurance “exchanges” to be created under the legislation.

“It’s supposed to be like ‘Travelosity’ for insurance,” he said.

Each state will set up a board to operate an insurance marketplace to help people find health insurance. By 2014, all individuals will be required to obtain coverage or face a penalty, though government subsidies will be provided to help people buy insurance.

Transportation

While elected officials and Mississippi Department of Transportation officials waxed eloquent about highway construction both proposed and underway, Delta Council’s Executive Vice President Chip Morgan introduced reality to the group saying that “If you’re against earmarks, you’re probably not going to live to see these changes.”

Morgan said U.S. Congressmen had heard the people speak and say they didn’t like how our taxes are being spent. Before referring to Congressional earmarks he noted that  construction projects mentioned that would allow opportunity for economic development in northwest Mississippi would cost $4.6 billion.

Morgan prefaced that statement saying, “I personally don’t foresee, and I hadn’t heard one constituent tell one  guy in the legislature to raise gas taxes and that’s where these guys get their funding,” pointing to the table with highway commission officials and Representative Warner McBride who serves as chairman of the House Transportation Committee.

McBride was emcee for the session and led off reminding the group that safe transportation and economic development were both functions of the Transportation Committee he chairs. McBride also discussed rail service and assured that “rails are very important to us.”

District MDOT Engineer Richard Allen relayed information to the group about the proposed Batesville bypass, Highway 6 upgrades beginning at Jackson Avenue in Oxford and from Batesville to Clarksdale and U.S. 49 connecting Brinkley, Ark., and the section of I-69 that will run roughly along Highway 61 once connected from Tennessee. I-69 is expected to be the major corridor between Mexico and Canada once completed.

Deputy Executive Director of MDOT Melinda McGrath warned the session that funding mechanisms would favor eastern, more populated states if current legislation passes. She explained that although the dollar amount of the proposed funding is much higher, the benefits for rural states are much lower.

Morgan later reiterated McGrath’s concern.

Morgan also said, “During next 30 years, 80 percent of growth population wise will be in 12 Southern sates. Batesville, Mississippi will possibly be situated between I-69 and I-55 and in a very enviable position.”

He added that 31 percent of all freight tonnage in this country is agricultural, also putting Batesville in a good spot.

Economic Development

The morning session concluded with an overview of ongoing economic development by Miss. Development Authority representatives John Brandon and Manning McPhillips.  

McPhillips reported that Mississippi, in the midst of a lingering recession, has managed to create 5,000 new jobs in 2010, with industries and businesses seeing more investment and expansion than the previous year.

He said MDA is attentive to even small business expansions, of 25 and 50 new employees, since those increases “have an economic impact on the local community.”

Brandon, in his comments, also zeroed in on existing industries and businesses, saying 80 percent of new jobs in the last two years have come from expansions.

Brandon also announced MDA was set to launch an “Entrepreneur Center” in coming months, beginning with a pilot program in some counties.

McPhillips told attendees that MDA, well aware of budget restraints in the coming 2012 fiscal year, is keeping its newest requests to only a few priorities. Those include the Economic Development HIghway Fund and the Rural Impact Fund, and a tax incentive for Hollywood films.

“Our legislative agenda will be pretty limited,” he said.

When Simmons returned to the lectern, he reminded the MDA reps, and the audience, of another Panola County success story: GE Aviation.

“They’ve hired about 200,” Simmons noted, with plans to “top out” at 475 in 2012.

Rupert Howell, Billy Davis and Rita Howell contributed to this story.