The Wood County Health Department is 29 years old, and showing its age.
At Thursday’s meeting, the board of health approved pursuing a $2.7 million renovation and addition to the East Gypsy Lane Road building.
The project includes $500,000 from the Wood County Commissioners and $500,000 in potential grant money, said Health Commissioner Ben Robison.
The board of health would be responsible for about $1.7 million, he said.
“We have sufficient funding to do this,” he said.
Robison said the construction and renovation will cost $2.1 million. The furnishings will be $100,000 and there will be a 20% margin for a $2.7 million total cost.
“I think this is an important need. We can afford it,” said board member Bob Midden.
Board member Richard Strow said he supported the renovation as long as “every effort in the world is made to capture funding. … Anything that can be done, beyond, that can reduce the amount that we put out.”
Midden asked if it would be more prudent to seek a loan for the $1.7 million.
Not with interest rates so high, Robison said.
Board member Susan Yoder asked how much the community health center renovation is costing. That project is wrapping up.
Richard Nelson, finance director said $472,000 has been spent, with $133,000 more expected.
“Right now we are underneath the budget,” Nelson said.
Yoder also asked about a timeline for the health department renovation.
Some potential grant funding may require project completion by July 2024, Robison said.
In his presentation to the board, Robison said that no substantial improvements have ever been made to the 29-year-old building.
The new plan will reorganize offices and storage, add seven or eight new work stations, improve lighting and possibly add the WIC department.
The Women, Infants and Children’s services are currently operated out of leased county space on Dunbridge Road. That costs $1,965 per month, Nelson said.
The next step is to go before the commissioners, Robison said.
“They own the land and we own the building,” he said.
