County officials are taking steps to make the long-delayed new Homeless Health Care Clinic on 11th Street a reality.
Todd Leamon, county engineer, said the city will provide the site at the old Farmers Market across from the clinic building that is leased from the city. The county will pay $1 per year on a 40-year lease.
The city will provide the sitework, streetscaping and parking as well as maintenance. The city will also pay the stormwater fee and waive tipping fees at the landfill on material from demolition at the site. An old building is at the location at 11th and Peeples streets, but it burned recently and parts of it are no longer there.
Mr. Leamon said foundry sand and four abandoned underground storage tanks were found at the site and the vapors from petroleum byproducts. A system of underground pipes and fans will be used to divert the vapors away from the new building.
Becky Barnes, health department administrator, said the same staff will operate in the new quarters. She said the county has been making lease payments and now will have utilities to cover.
The project, including the construction and $200,000 for the environmental remediation, is being covered by a $2.7-million federal grant.
Federal funds will also cover much of the cost of the operation.
Commissioner Joe Graham asked why a site was not chosen down the street that did not have contamination problems.
County Commissioner Fred Skillern said he understand why the site was chosen, saying it is "free and near the customers."
Artech will begin designing the building, which will be next to the city's new police precinct.