The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is reviewing a proposal for a redesign of the county health department’s office in Niles.
Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller addressed commissioners this week, saying plans have been in the works to improve the health department’s area of the South County building for some time.
“The health department needs more clinical rooms,” Miller said. “We need medication storage. We need workflow privacy, and we need facility enhancements.”
Miller presented to commissioners some plans drawn up with architectural firm Eckert Wordell that featured a new layout to better use space.
“We’re moving from four examination rooms to seven examination rooms. We have a lab draw area separate from our med room. We’ve got 10 workstations where we previously had six and we’ve got a small meeting room and a break room.”
Another feature Miller requested was a sign letting people know the health department is even in the building. They don’t have one now.
The overall project is expected to cost about $1.7 million, but Miller said the health department has secured a $750,000 grant to cover much of it. The county would need to put up about $660,000, and the health department would cover the rest from its budget.
County Administrator Brian Dissette said he’s working with commissioners now to finalize a plan. Miller said the goal is for construction to take place between January of 2025 and August of 2026.
