Pittsylvania County hopes to lure Centra

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors plans to apply for a certificate of need in hopes of bringing Centra health care facility to the county.

The board of supervisors unanimously voted to try to partner with Centra Health to apply for a certificate of need from the state of Virginia.

Callands-Gretna Supervisor Jerry Hagerman proposed the resolution because Gretna residents have to drive 35 miles for surgery and other hospital care. It also requests that Centra consider expanding to Pittsylvania County, including sites in Chatham, Gretna and Hurt.

“Citizens in the area are upset because we don’t have a decent medical center close by,” Hagerman said Tuesday.

The resolution cites several reasons for applying for the certificate of need, including Centra’s desire expand their facilities to the Gretna area. Pittsylvania County, the largest county in Virginia, has no outpatient surgery or 24-hour emergency center.

Also, county officials, during development of Pittsylvania County’s comprehensive plan, “realized a need for a[n] emergency and regular medical care facilities to be located in the urbanizing areas of Pittsylvania County, including but not limited to the incorporated areas of the towns of Chatham, Gretna and Hurt,” according to the resolution.

The state would have to approve the certificate of need before Centra could locate a facility in the county, said County Administrator Dan Sleeper.

The facility would serve residents in Pittsylvania, Halifax and Henry counties, and Danville and Martinsville.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Tim Barber said the county has twice voted to apply for certificates of need in the past.

» In other matters, the board of supervisors unanimously voted to approve Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Brenda Bowman’s proposal to form a beautification committee.

Bowman said supervisors would return to the next meeting with recommendations for citizens from their districts to serve on the committee. If approved, the citizens would attend board’s regular meeting on March 5.

The volunteer committee will work with the county’s litter control office, the Virginia Department of Transportation the Virginia Litter Prevention and Recycling Grants program, local civic organizations and other entities to raise funds and apply for grants to promote recycling, litter control and beautification and education programs for a cleaner and more attractive county.