Public Health ribbon-cutting set Oct. 8; disaster relief grants beginning to move

Des Moines County Public Health will hold a ribbon‑cutting at noon Tuesday, Oct. 8, with a public open house until 2 p.m., county staff told the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 1. The office will close that day to facilitate moving and reopen for regular services at 8 a.m. on Oct. 14.

A county public health representative said home health visits and scheduled nursing services will continue during the move. Burlington Urban Service buses will provide improved access to the new building, with the driver stopping by request near the entrance so residents can board or alight close to the facility.

At the same meeting, Shannon Pra, Emergency Management Coordinator, reported progress on a disaster relief grant program established after recent severe weather. She said 143 applications remain under review and 28 have been approved. "Approximately $99,000 has been given back in food assistance," she told the board; she also cited about $11,000 in home‑repair assistance and roughly $1,200 in personal‑property assistance, while noting additional applications remain pending.

Why it matters: The new Public Health building and the added transit access aim to improve residents' ability to reach immunizations and other services. Early disbursements from the disaster relief grant program mean some households are already receiving food and repair help, though many applications are still being processed.

County staff asked residents to check Public Health scheduling and said standard immunization clinics will continue; officials encouraged walk‑ins for flu and COVID shots during clinic hours.