Jackson Medical Center Expansion Rises as Council Funds Ballfields, Gets Halloween ‘Monster’ Visit

JACKSON, Ala. — Steel framing is now rising on the Jackson Medical Center expansion, an $11 million project that will add a new emergency department and physician’s clinic, City Councilmember Bobby Brooks told the Jackson City Council at its Oct. 13 meeting.

Brooks used the update to ask residents to be careful around the hospital construction site, where heavy equipment and deliveries of building materials are moving in and out. The meeting covered more than construction, however. The council heard thanks for the city’s Hurricane Isaias response, a report on a recent emergency drill, approved money for ballfield and tennis court improvements, and even got a visit from a group of costumed “monsters” making their annual Halloween rounds downtown.

What the $11 million hospital expansion includes

The expansion project at Jackson Medical Center has three main parts, according to information shared at the meeting:

• A new physician’s clinic of about 6,000 square feet
• A new emergency department of about 6,500 square feet
• A replacement roof for the hospital’s current facility

Construction is reported to be on schedule for completion in late June or early July 2027, although weather and other issues have affected some of the work along the way.

The visible progress marks a milestone for a project that residents have been able to watch take shape. Once the structural steel is in place, crews can move on to enclosing the buildings, installing roofing and exterior walls, and then the interior systems that a medical facility depends on, such as electrical, plumbing, heating and air, medical gas lines and specialized equipment. Emergency departments in particular require extensive interior buildout, which is one reason hospital projects typically take many months to complete even after the frame is up.

Use caution near the construction site

Brooks urged residents to watch for construction traffic and equipment in the area around the hospital. Officials also explained that the building materials staged at a nearby Sonic restaurant, which is now closed, are for the hospital project.

For drivers and pedestrians, that means a few common-sense precautions while the work continues:

• Slow down near the hospital and the staging area, and watch for trucks entering or leaving the roadway.
• Follow any posted signs, cones or directions from flaggers.
• Keep children and pedestrians away from staged materials and active work zones.
• Allow extra time if traveling to the hospital for appointments or visits, especially during busy delivery periods.

Why the project matters for rural Clarke County

Jackson Medical Center serves Jackson and surrounding communities in Clarke County, one of the many largely rural counties in southwest Alabama where the closest emergency room can be a long drive away. Small rural hospitals across Alabama and the nation have faced financial pressure for years, and an investment in a new emergency department and clinic space is a significant commitment to keeping local care close to home.

The question of local hospital care has also been in the news elsewhere in the county. In Thomasville, where Thomasville Regional Medical Center closed in 2024, South AL News has reported on efforts to find a new owner for the shuttered hospital, including Mayor Sheldon Day’s remarks that a sale announcement could come within two weeks.

Mayor thanks first responders for Isaias response

Mayor Audra Raybon thanked the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, the Jackson Police Department, public works employees and other first responders for their work getting ready for Hurricane Isaias and cleaning up after it passed.

Raybon said the city was fortunate that the storm caused less damage than officials had anticipated.

Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on the night of Oct. 9 as a Category 2 hurricane and moved inland across southwest Alabama, bringing down trees and power lines across a wide area. Communities to the east, including Brewton and other parts of Escambia County, took some of the hardest hits in the region, while Clarke County dealt with downed trees, outages and road-clearing work. Clarke County commissioners also recently praised law enforcement, firefighters, road crews and citizens for their storm work, as reported in South AL News’ coverage of the county commission.

Community drill with PCA tests emergency coordination

Jackson VFD Chief John Brown told the council about a recent community drill conducted with PCA, the company that operates a paper mill in Jackson. The exercise involved coordination among the hospital, police, emergency medical services and the fire department.

Brown said the drill provided a valuable learning experience and emphasized the importance of emergency responders working together to prepare for major incidents.

Large-scale drills like this one are a routine part of emergency planning in communities that host major industrial facilities. They allow each agency to practice its role in a realistic scenario, test radio communications and command structure, and find gaps before a real emergency. Including the hospital in the exercise is especially useful, because a major incident can bring several patients to an emergency room at once, and the hospital needs to know how that would be handled alongside fire and EMS crews in the field.

The Jackson VFD has had a busy fall. Earlier this month, the department honored three firefighters with life-saving medals and crowned its 2026 Fire Prevention queen at its 76th annual Fire Prevention Dinner.

Condolences for Bob Ray and Don Moore

Council members expressed condolences to the family of Bob Ray, whom officials described as a longtime friend of the city who attended Fire Prevention events for decades. Officials also remembered local businessman Don Moore, who died the previous week.

Money for ballfields and Jackson High tennis courts

The council approved two spending items for recreation facilities:

• $3,000 in capital funds for improvements to the softball and baseball facilities. Planned work includes recreational batting cages, a walkway between the cages and a new equipment building, along with drainage improvements at the softball field.
• $17,000 to resurface the tennis courts at Jackson High School.

Tennis court resurfacing typically involves repairing cracks, leveling low spots and applying new acrylic color coats and fresh lines, which extends the life of a court and improves safety and playability. Drainage work at ballfields helps fields dry faster after rain, reducing canceled games and practices, an issue for many fields across south Alabama during wet stretches.

A Halloween surprise: ‘monsters’ drop in on the council

Not everything at the Oct. 13 meeting was business. A group of costumed “monsters” brought an unexpected Halloween moment to council chambers.

The group, which included Kaylyn Stewart, Holly Morris, Dusty Smith, Courtney Weaver and their children, stopped by the meeting while taking Halloween photos around downtown Jackson. Council members welcomed the visitors and paused for a group photo before the friends went on with their photo shoot.

After the meeting, the group explained that the costumed photo shoot has become an annual tradition over about seven years. Each year, the friends and their children gather in matching costumes for a themed shoot.

Past themes have drawn on the 1980s, the “Children of the Corn” horror movies and other Halloween ideas. Morris said people have come to look forward to the annual photos, and the group keeps each year’s theme a surprise until the pictures are taken.

Small-town traditions like this one have a way of becoming part of a community’s calendar, and the friends’ visit gave council members and residents in attendance a lighthearted break from the agenda as Halloween approaches.

How to follow the Jackson City Council

The Jackson City Council handles the city’s budget, capital spending, appointments and local ordinances, and its meetings are open to the public. Residents who want to follow the hospital project, recreation improvements or other city business can attend council meetings or contact Jackson City Hall for meeting dates and agendas.

Questions about Jackson Medical Center’s services during construction can be directed to the hospital.