Health Department moves towards a better future

The Madison County Health Department Board of Trustees has signed a contract of sale to purchase the property located at 105 Armory St., which formally housed the Renal Advantage, Inc. Care Center dialysis service. 

Board Chairman Joe Brewen said the board is excited about the announcement.

“After researching the buildings in the city area that are vacant and much consideration to the price of the property and the building’s status and its location, the board selected the dialysis building as the best option for the new facility,” Brewen said. “As the contract of sale is the beginning, the project is expected to be completed by late summer 2020.”

Brewen said, while 2020 seems like a long way off, the process to develop detailed plans and get a bid awarded takes some time. Actual construction is not expected to begin until late 2019.

“The existing facility will need additional offices and clinical rooms constructed,” Brewen said. “The expansion of the facility will add the space needed for a meeting and training room that will include a kitchen to provide the ability to include nutrition education classes and food preparation classes for the community.”

The completed project is not expected to exceed $1,600,000, including the purchase of the property. The finished building will be 10,370 square feet with 6,500 square feet being the current building and a new addition of 3,870.

“The new addition is necessary as the square footage of the building is equal to the square footage of the current health department building,” Brewen said. “The Board of Trustees are dedicated to this project for the community and will keep the community informed of the process.”

Joe Brewen, Madison County Health Department board president signs the contract for the purchase of the dialysis building for the future home of the health department. Present for the signing are, from left, Darlene ‘Tissy’ Ramsey, Jackie Berry, Becky Hunt, Becky McFarland and Teresa Rehkop. 

Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline.com