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Council approves Health Department MOU to pursue downtown lease; one councilor abstains
Summary
Health Department staff presented a proposed MOU to lease additional downtown space from Aram Corporation using 2025 Health First Indiana funds; council approved sending the MOU to the commissioners and authorized proceeding, with Council Member Joe Keefer abstaining due to his firm's representation of the landlord.
The Vandenberg County Health Department asked the council for approval to pursue a lease for additional downtown office space from Aram Corporation, funded through the Health First Indiana (HFI) fund beginning in 2025.
Health Department staff said the space is two to three blocks from the department, is a full‑service lease (including utilities and janitorial services) and that rent would not increase for the first five years; after year five rent would adjust to CPI for years six through ten. Council member Joe Keefer disclosed his firm represents the landlord and said he would abstain from the vote.
After questions about advertising and appropriation timing, the council moved and approved a motion directing staff to proceed with the MOU and present it to the board of commissioners. The vote passed with five votes in favor, zero opposed and one abstention recorded for Joe Keefer.
What happens next: the health department will take the MOU to the commissioners for lease approval and staff will include the lease in the 2025 HFI appropriation request.
