Construction officially has begun on the new Jefferson County Health Department facility in Hillsboro.
Twenty-six people attended a Jan. 17 groundbreaking ceremony, marking the start of construction on the larger, more modern facility at 1515 Peach Tree Plaza Drive. Construction on the 19,957-square-foot, one-story building is expected to be complete in early 2025.
The project will cost an estimated $9.7 million.
However, excavation crews already have encountered rock on the east edge of the property, which will affect the depth of the stormwater drains and utilities, Health Department Executive Director Kelley Vollmar said during the Jan. 25 Board of Trustees meeting.
“The architect is currently working with civil engineers to develop a new location for the stormwater drains and utilities to help reduce the cost of the rock excavating,” she said. “We don’t have a final plan or cost, but they are in the process of getting that to us. They believe the work they are doing with the civil engineers might help to actually reduce some of our cost.”
In November, the Health Department awarded a $7,942,300 contract to Brockmiller Construction in Farmington to build the new office. Kirkwood-based Archimages is overseeing the project at a cost of $705,250.
The facility will be constructed on 7.75 acres of land the department purchased in February 2021 for $762,953.40 near highways 21 and B in the Pear Tree Plaza bordering the Hillsboro City Park.
The building will replace the agency’s 70-year-old, 9,810-square-foot office at 405 Main St. Once the new building is constructed, the agency plans to sell its Main Street location, Vollmar said.
The Health Department also has an office in Arnold.
According to Health Department officials, the new building is designed to meet the department’s and community’s evolving needs. The new facility will have a clinical area with several exam rooms; a drive-up testing laboratory; blood-draw stations; a large conference room for board meetings, training, and events; designated parking for the agency’s mobile health care units and more.
“We are thrilled to embark on this journey that will not only modernize our infrastructure but also elevate the quality of programs and services we provide to the residents of Jefferson County,” Vollmar said. “A new facility has been eagerly anticipated for quite some time. We are enthusiastic about advancing to the next phase and bringing this long-awaited project to fruition.”