Knox County Health Department Purchases Neighboring Building

By Echo Menges

The Knox County Health Department has announced the purchase of a new building.

According to KCHD Administrator Lori Moots-Clair, the building south of the health department, formerly known as the Social Services Office, was purchased on December 17, 2019, for $70,000.

The new building was paid for by donations and historical profits collected over the years including money willed to the health department from the Hortense Greenley Trust.

The purchase was approved by a unanimous vote of the KCHD Board of Directors.

For sale signs went up in front of the current health department building after a commercial walkthrough estimated a value of $225,000. The current health department building is listed to be sold for $219,900.

The new health department building will add approximately 1,100 square feet of workspace for the health department employees and subcontractors.

Moots-Clair reports the bidding process is beginning for improving the new building before the offices are ready to be moved to the new building. Some of the projected improvements to the new building include a new HVAC system and installation, new windows, doors, siding, interior paint and flooring.

“We hope to be in the new building by August 1,” said Lori Moots-Clair, KCHD Administrator.

Currently, 11 people work out of the KCHD building, not including six subcontracted therapy services people using seven offices, three clinic rooms and one classroom. The new building will have four offices and shared office space to accommodate all Registered Nurses, full-size lab space will allow for better and large lab equipment and the classroom will have 1000 added square feet.

The Knox County Health Department is located in Edina at 207 North First Street – between the Edina Head Start building and the former Social Services Office on Highway 15.

Read a Letter to the Editor from Moots-Clair explaining the process by clicking here.