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Buchanan Realty Group CLICK HERE located in Hamilton Hills Shopping Center, 621 Old Hickory Blvd., sponsors Strictly Business, a weekly column that takes a look at a few of this week’s business highlights.
The Buchanan Realty Group – (731) 300-3071 – provides commercial real estate services throughout Tennessee. The group specializes in leasing, tenant representation, investment sales and acquisition – concentrating on retail, hospitality, c-store, medical, industrial and multi-family sectors.
20% of all Jackson Energy Authority accounts are past due
If customers of Jackson Energy Authority are behind in their utility bills, they might want to respond to a letter they were mailed May 1, or a telephone call some have received concerning their past due account.
JEA did not disconnect services during a 2.5 month period which began March 13 due to the pandemic.
“Our customer service reps and credit department are making outbound calls to these customers that we have not heard from, yet,” said Nancy Nanney, JEA’s chief financial officer, “They have gotten their letter, and it’s been a couple of weeks, and we have not heard from them.”
Nanney, who made her comments during JEA’s monthly board meeting, said 20 percent of JEA’s total customers have past due accounts.
“We are reaching out to them and contacting them, and if we still can’t reach them – and we are having a lot of success reaching them – but if we can’t – before we go and disconnect them, we are going to go and put a door hanger on their door and give them 48 hours.
“We are doing the most we can do to try to reach these customers and make arrangements.
“Of course, the goal is to keep them from getting in arrears.”
Here’s the breakdown of accounts past due –
Residential
9,504 accounts are currently past due. This is down from a high of 9,868 last week.
The total past due for all residential accounts is $2,054,200.51.
The average balance of these past due accounts is $216.14
Commercial
538 accounts are currently past due. This is down from a high of 831 in mid-April.
The total past due for all commercial accounts is $371,805.05.
The average balance of these past due accounts is $691.09.
No industrial accounts are past due.
Dilapidated Hollywood Drive apartment complex undergoing renovation
Management could not be reached for comment, but aging apartments at 1170 and 1180 Hollywood Drive are undergoing a makeover.
Hollywood Jackson 7080 LLC purchased the two properties from Reelfoot Lake Inn LLC for $750,000 in December, 2019.
There are 58 total units – 26 at 1170 Hollywood Drive and 32 at 1180 Hollywood Drive.
Unemployment rates for West TN counties – sponsored by PERSONNEL PLACEMENTS, LLC
Social distancing may save your life…News/Talk 101.5 FM may save your business –
PERSONNEL PLACEMENTS, LLC, 621 Old Hickory Blvd., is a full service, competent, and professional staffing agency that handles the needs of Fortune 500 companies as well as local small businesses – for more information, call (731) 668-5056.
Highlights from the April 2020 Labor Force Estimates Report:
The Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate for Tennessee increased from 3.3 percent in March 2020 to 14.7 percent in April 2020.
During the same time period, the Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate for the United States increased from 4.4 percent to 14.7 percent.
The unemployment rate increased in all 95 counties across the state.
Fayette County had the lowest unemployment rate at 9.4 percent.
Sevier County had the highest unemployment rate at 29.5 percent
For counties in West Tennessee CLICK HERE
Renovation of Lambuth Flats continues revitalization of mid-town
Renovations are complete on 16, one-bedroom units at Lambuth Flats, a fully renovated mid-century apartment complex.
The complex is located across the street from the University of Memphis-Lambuth at 816 Lambuth Boulevard.
Each apartment, which offers 490-square-feet, has been completely remodeled and includes a washer and dryer.
Rent is $700 per month.
West Tennessee Healthcare operating income drops $21 million in April
The meeting may have been virtual, but reality set in when the West Tennessee Healthcare Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting, Tuesday.
“What we are experiencing is very consistant with the rest of the country,” said Jeff Blankenship, WTH’s chief financial officer, “Leading up to COVID (19) and all the activity of recent months, we have been about seven percent under budget; ER volumes were 46 percent under budget for April; ambulatory or clinic visits were down about 35 percent, (and) surgical cases were down 63 percent.
“Of course, being hit hard with all the cancellation of elective procedures during the month of April – this is just a snapshot of those variances for the month – putting in context where we were last month.”
Blankenship added operating revenue was 40 percent under budget for the month.
“Year-to-date, our operating income is a loss of $26 million, about 21 (million) of that happened in the month of April,” Blankenship said, “For the 10 months, ending at the end of April … $26 million of loss compared to a budget of $20 million – a negative 3.5 percent operating margin.”
West Tennessee Healthcare – Kimberly Butler named employee of the month
Kimberly Butler, a 16-year employee at West Tennessee Healthcare, has been named the organization’s employee of the month for May.
According to a press release from Amy Garner – Chief Compliance & Communications Officer – Kimberly is a member of the Human Resources team.
“Her coworkers say that she is considered a role model for anyone with any personnel issues. She is ALWAYS available.
“She listens very attentively and guides the manager/director to make the right decisions.
“Kimberly is always smiling and takes such pride in her work.
“She is very sincere and thoughtful. She loves her job and it shows in her work. She is the perfect fit for her job!
“Congratulations to our May Employee of the Month!”
Old Country Store eliminates buffet – transitions to family-style dining
Casey Jones Village is a place where history can’t be escaped. But, the largest tourism attraction in Jackson is being transformed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a press release from Ginger Williams, after serving a nationally recognized buffet for 53 of their 55 year history, Clark and Brooks Shaw will transition to family-style dining at the Old Country Store in the first week of June 2020.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about our lives in such a short timespan. We had been successful in running a quality buffet experience for decades, and overnight, business drops 75%. Our Dixie Cafe take-out kept us open, and we will continue to offer our new innovations there, including new menu items, family meal packs, and curbside and delivery service through our partners at WAITR,” said Brooks Shaw, General Manager. “We believe family-style dining makes the most sense for our current Guests from a safety and menu standpoint, and can be the catalyst for bringing in new Guests, particularly Millennial, Gen Z, and young family diners.”
Guests will be seated with their group only, unlike some other family-style experiences where smaller parties are combined to make tables of 8 or more. “It’s critical to us to make sure that our Guests know that dining here is just as safe as any other restaurant during these uncertain times,” said Clark Shaw, CEO and President of the Old Country Store.
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