A beaming party for TRMC

By Jeff Byrd

Editor

The Thomasville Regional Medical Center had its first public event Thursday even though it remains under construction.

The TRMC ownership group, along with the construction crew from Birmingham’s Brasfield & Gorrie, and the Thomasville Alabama Chamber of Commerce had a beam signing ceremony at the TRMC.

Just about everyone in Thomasville connected to the $36 million hospital project was in attendance including, the Thomasville City Council, The Thomasville Health Care Authority, and the Southwest Alabama Medical Center Auxillary.

Zack Wilson heads the construction crew at the site for Brasfield and Gorrie. He said the crews started work on May 29 and in the five months since, have made tremendous strides, including getting a roof on the primary hospital floor space.

“By getting done what we needed to get done, it will help us toward the finish,” Wilson said. “Our guys have been battling the rain since we started on May 29. I’d just got to tell our guys, starting (Friday) will be back at it.

“I’d just like to thank Curtis (James), the mayor (Sheldon Day) and everyone for helping us get out here and give our guys work and get this new hospital built. We’re excited to do this and proud to do this.”

Wilson said he has about 85 workers under contract at the site.

After the ceremony, Wilson said that because the hospital now has its roof on, the crews can work on completing the exterior walls and then the interior mechanical parts of the facility.

During his remarks, James, the TRMC Director and head of the ownership group, said that the hospital is set to open by Aug. 29, 2019.

“So we have a date to open this new facility,” James said. “This will be a great hospital for this community. That has been and remains our goal,” James said.

James then thanked some representatives from Servis First Bank out of Birmingham. Servis First is handling the financial arrangements for the TRMC project and signed off on its financial closing back in August of 2017.

Fred Rogers, who handles the maintenance and construction projects for Rush Health Systems in Meridian, was also on hand. He said Rush is pleased with the progress made on the project. Rush Health Systems will handle the management and operation of the TRMC.

Day made remarks thanking the citizens of Thomasville for getting behind the project and steering it to this point.

“When we decide to do a project here in Thomasville, it is a team effort,” Day said. “People wonder how a town of 5,000 can accomplish what we accomplish, well it’s not about me, I just have the awesome, awesome opportunity to lead this group. But without you guys, this would not be possible. I can’t thank you enough. This includes all the citizens who have the vision for this hospital and for what it will mean to us and to our entire region.”

Day later thanked God for opening up doors and opportunities for the TRMC project to move forward. He then thanked the late Thomasville City Councilwoman Grace Megginson.

Megginson was one of the first employees of the old Thomasville hospital in 1964. She supported the project through her votes until her death in 2015.

Day said with this project, and several more in development, Thomasville is seeing about $100 million worth of projects move forward. He thanked the County Commission, city’s Industrial board and the council for making it happen.

“I thank you for your partnership. We’re excited about the great things that are happening including the new hotel that will adjoin this hospital. A new, four-story, Holiday Inn Express, will get under construction in December. We will also have another doctor’s office, and an administrative office, being built on this site.”