Minutes 12-14-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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As the abstract indicates during the 2008 space study updates, the long-term plan that was proposed included relocating health department services in Hillsborough to Hillsborough Commons and a 15,000 square foot addition to Southern Human Services for additional health and dental health service needs if possible by 2010-2011. This was approved by the Board of Commissioners on March 6, 2008. Last year, given the economic situation and the county's current debt service, the Board of Commissioners decided not to exercise the option to buy Hillsborough Commons and therefore the plan approved in 2008 was void. The Health Department has in good faith submitted extensive analysis and updates to the space study each year since 2006; with the most extensive analysis occurring in 2007 and again in 2009-201 0 for dental services. Pros and cons have been included in each of these iterations for consideration by Commissioners. (2) With respect to the Health Clinics, the only cost estimate cited previously was $200,000 - $250,000 plus equipment for renovations that would serve for three to five years. Please describe those proposed renovations, including but not limited to the part of the Whitted Building in which they were located, how many square feet were being renovated, the total number of square feet for the clinics, and the cost for the equipment. As the abstract states, the $200,000-250,000 included minimal changes to the building to accommodate only the health clinic moving into space in Building A on the ground floor. It did not take into account additional exam rooms, a negative pressure room, or other clinical needs to accommodate anything other than a 3-5 year time span until Hillsborough Commons could be renovated. It did not include any upfit or changes in the current clinic space to accommodate the transition of dental services as that decision had not yet been made. (3) With respect to the Dental Clinic, please describe the proposed renovations that were authorized for the Whitted Building when the BOCC agreed to close the Dental Clinic at Carr Mill, and include the same information as requested in question (2) above. Please refer to Attachment #2 for Dental Options that was presented at the September 21, 2010 meeting, you will see that this option called for "renovated dental clinical space at Whitted to accommodate 8 dental chairs". This was the first recommended option that was approved by the Board at that meeting. That Board agenda item is attached here for your convenience. There was no discussion at that time about renovation costs to accommodate this transition. (4) My understanding is that Medicaid Maximization Funds could be used at another location, and thus their use is not limited to the Whitted Building. Could the funds be used for construction at the Southern Orange Human Services Campus? Yes, they could be used for new construction as well, however they must be spent in the program that earned them and the entire sum could not be used to construct a dental "wing" or "extension". Over the years, the dental program has had to access these funds to replace broken equipment that was not able to funded by the county.