Shovels hit the dirt in DeKalb County Wednesday, as the new Health Department building project celebrated its ground breaking.
DeKalb County Health Department Director Michael Railling said the Health Department had some 6,000 visits over the last year. Railling said the department outgrew the old building, and its modern replacement will be better equipped to serve the county’s needs.
“We’re going from six clinic rooms to nearly ten clinic rooms, and the layout in this facility will be a lot more streamlined,” Railling said. “It’ll improve efficiency throughout the clerical and clinical areas, so the space will be much better utilized than the current facility.”
Dave Harrell with the Tennessee Department of Health said the state is the only one that offers primary care at its health department centers.
“Part of what this new building will do is allow us to do that more efficiently and more safely if God forbid there’s another pandemic,” Harrell said. “The whole purpose of these funds is to make sure we’re better prepared for the next pandemic than we were for COVID.”
Railling said the $4.69 million project be funded with American Rescue Plan money. The new 9,860 foot building will have a community room, which can serve a variety of functions depending on the county’s needs.
Railling said the new building has been a discussion for almost two years. He said it is one of four health department buildings to be replaced in the region.
The old building was constructed in 1971. Representative Michael Hale, who grew up in DeKalb County, said he remembers visiting there as a kid. Hale said seeing the new plans is exciting, and the building will boost the county’s morale.
“Just to see all the planning, and a lot of people, you know, hear the talk of it for a long time,” Hale said. “But then to see we finally break ground and to see what’s coming for DeKalb County, it’s a great day.”
Hale said discussions with the Department and local government helped get the ball rolling on the new building. Hale said everyone had to work with T-DOT on some issues as well during the early stages.
Though the new building will be larger, Railling said there will not be any new positions added right now. There are currently 14 employees at the DeKalb County Health Department.
Railling said the building will leave some room for future expansion if needed. The new Health Department building will be located on Tiger Drive right next to the old facility. Railling said the location is ideal, partly because it will also sit next to the middle and high school buildings.
Project Manager Lincoln Talbert said the longevity of the building will be better than other buildings going up these days. He said he expects the project to be finished in about a year.
Heath Department employees, contractors, and local leaders, including Mayor Matt Adcock, were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday morning.