Health Department construction underway
By SANDRA STONE Following an arduous design, bidding and grant application process, construction on the addition to the Meade County Health Department has begun. Work began Oct. 24, on the heels of an Oct. 19 preconstruction meeting. Completion is slated for early summer in 2006. Once construction is completed, the clinical services of the Meade County Health Department will all be housed in the lower level of the building, an 8,000-square-foot combination of renovation of the existing structure and the addition. New and improved facilities will include examination rooms, a laboratory, offices and a community classroom/meeting room. Expanded waiting room space, a better flow through the clinic and the classroom will all be utilized to their best capacity to serve the needs of Meade County citizens, according to clinical director Kris Paul. The project, which will cost a little over $1 million, is primarily funded through three sources: a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant applied for by the Meade County Fiscal Court; $310,000 from Meade County Board of Health funds; and $220,000 borrowed from the Lincoln Trail Health District. Frank Culberson of CMW, Inc. is the architect of record on the project, and Parco Construction, Inc. is the general contractor. Local subcontractors include Lusk Mechanical, Richardson’s Bulldozing and Sperzel Electric. The project is managed by the Lincoln Trail Area Development District. During construction, both the health department and environmental offices will be located on the main floor (upper level) of the health department building. Parking will also be more limited during the construction process. All health department services are still available, despite the growing pains of construction. Diabetes classes have moved to the Extension office during construction. For more information about the Meade County Health Department and its services, call (270) 422-3988.
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Photo by Sandra Stone