ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsCooper Green Mercy/North Birmingham Clinic

Plans for Cooper Green Mercy Hospital, to open a clinic in North Birmingham came as a surprise to some Jefferson County leaders.

Cooper Green is funded by Jefferson County.

And reports surfaced last week-- saying hospital management was working to open a North Birmingham clinic.

But Wednesday, county leaders said they don't have the money to staff a new clinic.

Cooper Green is working with Birmingham to get grant money.

County Commissioner, Sandra Little Brown says, she hopes the grant money-- is enough.

Commissioner, Little Brown says, "Money-wise, the county can't do a thing with that right now. We don't have the money to do it. I wish that we could, but I hope that Birmingham can succeed in that area to get that done because the people out there really need that service."

Cooper Green operated a health clinic off Daniel Payne Drive, but the April tornado destroyed it.

It's unclear whether staff from that clinic could fill needs-- at a North Birmingham clinic.