New Whitley Health Department facility opens to public this week

After several false starts the employees at the Whitley County Health Department are settling into their new, bigger facility in Williamsburg.

“It is surprising how comfortable it feels,” said Public Health Director Gail Timperio of the 33,000-square feet facility on Penny Lane off of Ky. 92 West. “We are at home.”

Employees spent the weekend and Monday unpacking boxes and equipment that were moved Friday evening. At 8 a.m. Monday, the new office was open for business and the first clients were served.

Maintenance and construction workers were ironing out some bugs and finishing some last minute items such as the installation of a speaker in the ceiling.

“There have been no major problems,” said Maintenance Manager Bill Freeman.

Timperio said one of the bugs employees found was the lack of a sink in the immunization lab. The sink was in the original plans but was eliminated when the room was reconfigured.

“No one caught it,” Timperio said. “Fortunately, there is space for it that backs up against some plumbing. They are working on it this week.”

Laura Cornelius said the additional space has taken some getting used to among the employees.

“We are used to just hollering at one another,” Cornelius explained, adding that employees are still learning their way around.

“I made one trip all the way around the floor when I was looking for the place to put a blood specimen,” she said.

Timperio said with the space in the new building and the additional property available for  expansion, the facility can meet the county’s needs for the next 100 years.

Even with the paint barely dry, Timperio and the staff are working on ways to make the building more useful to the community. The health department has been awarded a grant to pay for a generator for the building. Timperio explained that the building’s location off of Interstate 75 and proximity to the Kentucky/Tennessee board make it an asset in the event of a disaster in the region.

The basement has a large meeting room, which can easily be converted to temporary shelter space, as there is also a kitchen, bathrooms and showers.

“There is always some grant writing going on,” Timperio said. “We will go after things as they become available.”

The endeavor began in November 2011 when the health department purchased eight acres in Briar Creek Crossing.

Construction was initially scheduled to be completed in September. However, painting and tile issues pushed the substantial completion date back to February.

Health department officials noted that the tile work was not signed off on and had to be redone because the tile did not match. The staff could not move into the building until the work was completed. 

As to the old building, Timperio said the health department has no plans to use it.

“We are hoping the county will buy it,” Timperio said