The Municipal Building Authority of Carbon County hosted a meeting in the Commission Chambers of the Administration Building on Friday afternoon.
This meeting met only one agenda item, which was the public hearing on a request for a CIB grant that will utilize the remodeling of the Southeast Utah Health Department (SEUHD). As previously reported, the building that was once the Seventh District Court building, owned by the county, was traded between the county and the health department.
Braden Bradford, health department director, was in attendance at this brief meeting and stated that since being director for two years it has become evident that the building the department currently resides in does not suit the long-term needs.
Some reasons Bradford listed included inadequate access for many that utilize the department for its myriad of offerings, as well as the parking that is insufficient on most days. Internally, it was noted that the bathrooms are not ADA compliant, the vaccination and conference rooms are not large enough and the SEUHD is out of space for employee offices as well.
A total request of $2,868,000 was submitted to the CIB. Right now, that request is split half and half between a loan request and a grant. The SEUHD were able to secure $460,000 as a WIC grant for infrastructure to be added to the project. Bradford stated that it is possible that the funds will be awarded in different manners from all grant to all loan. As it stands, it is calculated that the mortgage payment will be about $70,000.
Bradford informed the authority that the amount will fit within the budget and also wanted to inform all that the project should not result in any additional burden to Carbon, Emery or Grand counties.
Continuing, Bradford stated that if the monies come through as a 100 percent loan, it will be over budget. At that time, the SEUHD would have to seek out additional grant funds or additional sources of funding.
“We’re excited about the possibilities, we’re excited to partner with the county,” Bradford concluded.
From there, the public hearing was opened by Commissioner Casey Hopes at 12:35 p.m. However, there was not any individual present that deemed it pertinent to speak, prompting the public hearing to be closed at 12:36 p.m. Commissioner Martines then made a motion to adjourn. From here, the county and SEUHD will continue to work on securing funding for the project.