Fentress County will make improvements to a helicopter landing zone through its partnership with the UT Health System.
The two entities will use an estimated $350,000 in federal funds to build a 75-foot by 75-foot pad for helicopters. UT Health System Representative Steve Clapp said the plan is to re-pour concrete to make the pad more secure, along with other improvements.
“We are gonna put some new lights in around it, also put a new windstock up, etc., just to get a little more lighting so we can kind of enhance that and make sure it’s looking like it should and is very visible from folks flying in as well as, you know, the EMS people that are bringing people up as well,” Clapp said.
Clapp said Congressman John Rose and County Executive Jimmy Johnson played a huge role in acquiring the grant. Clapp said the goal is to hopefully start making improvements as soon as the weather permits.
“Obviously, pouring concrete today would not work, but once it warms up a little bit here in another month or two, we will try to find some time to get in there and get it done,” Clapp said.
Clapp said the landing zone could be used by any aircraft. The commission approved a Memorandum of Understanding since the grant was acquired by UT Health System.
The county has partnered with UT Health System since the Jamestown Hospital closed in 2019 to provide health care and emergency services. Clapp said the partnership has gone well.
“We are seeing about 10,000 patients a year up there,” Clapp said. “It looks like we are back on track in 2025, it’s what we did in 2024. And so we are going to see a similar number, and hopefully you all have seen that and seen the impact in the community, and you are getting good care up here as well.”
Clapp said the partnership has worked so well that other counties are asking about the partnership, wanting a similar type of partnership.
