CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Vanderbilt University Medical Center told the City Council this week that it plans to finance a replacement LifeFlight helicopter to serve Montgomery County and surrounding communities.

A resolution was brought to the City Council asking the council to approve VUMC’s move, which doesn’t require any local spending.

The Health and Educational Facilities Board of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County proposed to issue one or more series of tax-exempt revenue bonds or other tax-exempt debt in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $194 million. Then, the proceeds of the VUMC obligations would be loaned to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A portion of those funds would be used to finance the replacement helicopter in Clarksville, stationed at Outlaw Field.

“Vanderbilt (University) Medical Center is financing a replacement helicopter in your community,” VUMC spokesperson Dwight Seeley told the council on Thursday. “The purpose of this resolution before you is to approve the Nashville board’s issuance of bonds because some of the proceeds, the assets, sit in your community.”

The City Council resolution is needed to meet legal requirements, and no spending is needed by the City of Clarksville.

“The bonds will be repaid solely from VUMC. There’s no cost obligation or liability to the local government. No taxes or pledges to repay the bonds. Most of all, we really appreciate your support of the Vanderbilt University LifeFlight program,” Seely said.

‘Vanderbilt LifeFlight is a source of great comfort’

When asked what the LifeFlight program means to the community, Mayor Joe Pitts told Clarksville Now, “The vital impact of Vanderbilt University LifeFlight in emergency medicine within our community is, without question, marked by excellence, and is supported by a long, proven history of exceptional service.

“Vanderbilt utilizes a strategic network of LifeFlight bases providing rapid response times, and offers complete patient access in critical moments, along with advanced safety features. For Clarksville, Vanderbilt LifeFlight is a source of great comfort, knowing they are there when we need them,” Pitts said.

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