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Dawson County holds public hearing on $1 million CDBG pre-application for new public health facility
Summary
At an Aug. 1 work session the Dawson County Board of Commissioners heard a public hearing on a $1 million Community Development Block Grant pre-application to build a new public health facility (10% county match). Local health officials urged adding drive-thru capabilities and more clinic space; a second hearing is set for Aug. 15.
The Dawson County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing Aug. 1 on a pre-application for a $1,000,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund construction of a new county public health facility, a presentation during the work session said. The project would require a 10% county match and the county is partnering with the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission to prepare the application.
Dawson County Grant Accountant Laurie Whalen introduced the application and said the county has engaged the regional commission to assist with the grant process. Maggie Smith of the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission reviewed the grant application process and procedures, a presentation that accompanies the meeting minutes.
Dr. Larry Anderson, chairman of the Dawson County Board of Health, told commissioners the COVID-19 pandemic revealed shortages in indoor space for testing and immunizations. "We had nowhere to do the mass testing until we got a tent, and we were outdoors the whole time in the rain, the cold, the wind," he said, and urged that the new building include a drive-thru area so residents can access services out of bad weather and staff can maintain supply flows.
"We’re serving more people every day, and we’re getting stifled by the [lack of] space," Amy Jusak, office manager at the Dawson County Health Department, said in support of pursuing the grant. She told the board the department needs more room to expand services as the community grows.
County officials said a second public hearing on the CDBG pre-application will be held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2024. The board also placed a related RFP (RFP #434-24 for architectural and engineering services tied to the CDBG project) on the Aug. 15 voting session agenda for consideration.
No formal vote on the grant application was held at the work session; the hearing was informational and the item will return to the board for action at the Aug. 15 voting session.
