Jackson County has received bids for a project to remodel and expand the county’s Health Department facility.
Jackson County Health Department Director Matt Tuck said the project will double the size of the nurses station and drug room. Tuck said the the project will construct an ADA compliant clinic room and office toward the parking lot side of the building. Tuck said the project is needed to handle the growth the county has seen over the years.
“We went from seeing around 1,300 patients a year to over 1,700,” Tuck said. “So just the growth and then also we have added a mental health navigator that took an extra office space.”
Tuck said bids look really good as they came in around the $400,000 range. Tuck said the bids will allow for the Health Department to use remianing grant funds to purchase a new roof and backup generator.
“Back when the tornadoes happened in Putnam County they also hit in Jackson County and we lost power and our backup generator did not kick on, so we were without power to the building for a good amount of time,” Tuck said. “Luckily we were able to get a gas powered generator hooked up so we didn’t lose, you know, our vaccines and our vaccine refrigerator and that kind of thing. So we are actually going to be able to get a whole building generator that will be the new backup.”
Tuck said he expects the county to award a bid soon.Tuck said the county is still figuring what else on the Health Department’s wish list can be covered by the grant.
“At this point I know we will have enough to do the roof and the generator, but there is also like just little odds and ins that you know, are gonna be routine maintenance like parking lot striping, landscaping, that kind of stuff,” tuck said.
Tuck said he has been told that the project will likely sart some time in January. Tuck said since most of the work is inside the project will likely be completed by July.
