The location of the Jasper County Health Department was discussed in detail this week during the Jasper County Board of Health meeting.
The board, along with JCHD Administrator Becky Pryor, went through the challenges the department is having in its current location and steps that need to take place for a possible relocation.
“In February when we took over Jasper County Health Department, we knew there would be some growing pains and we know that there is some issues with this building,” Pryor said. “I just really recommend we continue to explore our options for looking at building space and knowing where we are going and what we are doing.”
Pryor spoke about wants and needs for the department including a space with public restroom accessibility, a conference room, additional spaces to conduct more clinics and better handicapped accessibility among other needs.
“Parking is also an issue at this building. It is hard for parking for us and our clients because you are not allowed to park a lot of places,” Pryor said. “More than that, it is just having a good work flow.”
Board chair Margot Voshell discussed the recent change with the board of supervisors following the recent election as a good time to engage the supervisors about this need in the county.
“We will be working with them to come up with a solution that best meets our needs as well as needs of the county,” Voshell said. “It is the No. 1 priority to research a new space. People need to have a place they can go to that they can count on when they are looking for health needs.”
The board is also looking to the future growth of the department and finding the current space hinders any new programs or services that can be offered by the county.
“We can’t do anything else here, we are pretty limited. It is really not set up to be a clinic, we all know that, and we really can’t do anything else in the space we are in,” Pryor said. “I think it comes down to that, we are stagnant with what we can do within the walls of the building.”
Pryor compared Jasper County to Marion County, which re-purposed a former box store building to hold its county health department, and the programs it can now offer in the larger space.
“You see all of the great programs they bring to Marion County because of the building and the space,” Pryor said. “It makes me a little sad for Jasper County that we aren’t there yet.”
Voshell said she feels very confident in the board of supervisors and its commitment to the health of Jasper County.
“They are equally committed to venture we are on and feel very supported by them and really feel there is going to be a resolution,” Voshell said.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com