MOUNT VERNON — Knox Public Health has been out of space for years, and the lack of space is reaching a critical point.
“We’re looking at a five-year plan, but I need a six-month plan,” Knox County Health Commissioner Zach Green told the county commissioners last Thursday. “Office space is the biggest space I need in the interim.”
Health officials have looked at various options with no luck as yet. A property owner did not respond to an offer to buy vacant land, and the health board ruled out Cooper Progress Park due to issues with the structure of the CPP Property Owners Association.
Green said all options are on the table: building new, renovating, and all departments on one campus or separated off campus. He also contacted East Knox Schools about placing the modular units the district used during its recent construction project on 2.5 acres of county-owned land east of the health department.
“If the most financially feasible is to put up modular units on that property, then I’ll do it. It’s not an ideal option … but we’ve been out of space for four years,” he said. “We’re looking at current structures, vacant properties, ideally we’re looking for access to the downtown area so we can reach the community we need to reach.”
In other health news, Green said KPH continues to work on the levy that is on the Nov. 8 ballot. The replacement levy will increase from 0.8 mills to 1.0 mills and generate an estimated $1.667 million in revenue.
KPH will offer COVID boosters at Mount Vernon High School’s Energy Fieldhouse this fall. In addition, a drive-thru flu vaccination is set for Oct. 1 from 8 to 11 am at the Knox County Fairgrounds.
