County approves $250K for Health Department upgrade, renovations
Work and spending on renovations to the Anderson County Health Department building continues.
The building is at 710 North Main Street in Clinton.
During its September meeting, the Anderson County Commission approved $250,000 for renovations.
It also added a $349,000 grant of state and federal funds to its budget.
Mayor Terry Frank told The Courier News these renovations involve moving the dental clinic to the end of the building rather than having its offices spread out over the rest of the building.
Frank said this will give the dental clinic more space as well as improve efficiency for the whole building.
The new dental clinic space is one of many phases of renovations.
Once the dental clinic moves, the county plans to renovate the former clinic spaces to host Health Department operations.
Frank said on Monday that the dental clinic should move into the new space “in the next week or two.”
She said Anderson County received the $349,000 grant from Tennessee Department of Health and federal American Rescue Plan funds for updating the clinical and clerical areas.
The state also agreed to provide an additional $699,000 provided that the county agrees to spend an additional $616,400.
Frank said because the Health Department will continue operation in the existing location, the construction will have to proceed in phases with renovations going section by section.
Health Center Director Charles Turner said renovations will “touch every area of the Health Department.”
They will include improvements to the main entrance and reception area, updated clinic areas including areas that support clinical operations, fresh paint and new flooring.
Turner said the renovations will make the department more efficient in addition to changing how it looks.
“This level of renovations does not happen often, and we are excited to be able to improve our facility for our citizens,” said Turner. “It provides a renewed energy in our commitment to protect, promote and improve the health and well-being of all people in Tennessee.”
The dental clinic in its new facility will continue to serve uninsured individuals and recipients of TennCare and CoverKids, but will not accept patients with private insurance.
For more information on non-dental clinic Health Department services, call 865-425-8800.