ASHLAND — Plans are underway to relocate the offices of the Ashland County Health Department and the county’s Emergency Management Agency to an empty building on Claremont Avenue.
The Ashland County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday to purchase 1211 Claremont Avenue, a former Rite Aid pharmacy, for $845,000. The commissioners also hired VSWC Architects for $22,500 so the firm can provide architectural services for the project.
According to VSWC’s contract with the county, a copy of which Ashland Source obtained through a records request, the estimated cost for the construction portion of the project is $1.5 million.
“The scope of the work includes interior remodeling, new mechanical systems and minor exterior improvements,” the contract reads.
The 11,000 square-foot building on Claremont Avenue is currently “an empty shell,” said commissioner Denny Bittle. He said the plans are to install new windows and redo the entrance.
“It’s going to be a better use of square footage because we’ll have it exactly the way (the health department and EMA) want it, with nurses stations and offices,” Bittle said.
Currently, the county health and EMA agencies are housed in the Service Center building off State Route 60. Commissioner President Jim Justice said the service center could possibly be sold to Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center.
The career center issued a news release Tuesday that announced its plans to do exactly that. The plan is to remodel its existing building and to purchase the service center, which happens to sit next to the existing school. The service center will then be used for adult education programs and administrative offices.
The project, according to the career center, will cost $43 million. Voters approved a 1.1 mill permanent improvement levy on the ballot in November, which will provide the means to pay for the project.
Ashland Health Department Commissioner Vickie Taylor said she’s excited about the project.
“I appreciate the commissioners finding a great location for us,” she said. “It’s more centralized for the whole county, there’s easy access in and out. And it enables us to expand — have more medical services. We’re thrilled about it.”
She said a lot of the health department’s educational and clinical programs were cut because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the space will hopefully allow for the reintroduction of those, along with the possibility of new programs, she said.
The health department was one of the first county agencies to move out to the service center around 2009, just before the county’s Emergency Management Agency moved there.
Mark Rafeld, EMA director, said the building’s “blank canvas” makes it exciting to imagine the possibilities.
“It’ll be a good space when it’s done,” he said.
Both Rafeld and Taylor deferred to Ashland County Coroner Dale Thomae on a question on whether the new site will include space for additional morgue space, a concern on which the agencies have spoken publicly.
Ashland County currently only has two cold storage spaces for dead bodies and an informal agreement with Richland County should more space be needed.
“We’re working out our situation with (UH Samaritan Medical Center). And I think that’s just something that will work itself out where we don’t need to build a morgue,” Rafeld said, before deferring further questions to Thomae.
County commissioner Jim Justice said morgue space would likely not be included at the new site. Bittle said it would be considered, but deferred to Thomae.
Thomae was not immediately available for comment.
