The Hancock County Health Department is slated to break ground on a new facility in the very near future. Jackie Huff, Health Department administrator, said ground will be broken next week for a new 4,000-square-foot building which will be located on N,. Chester Street in New Cumberland next to the Hancock County Magistrate’s Office. The building will be similar in appearance to the Magistrate Office and will be constructed on a concrete slab on property which was once home to the New Cumberland Locks & Dam. The property is owned by the County and has most recently been used by the Health Department for COVID testing, Total cost of the facility is $533,000.00 and Huff said the Department has acquired grants to fund all but $200,000.00 of the total construction costs. Huff appeared before the Hancock County Commission on June 9to update them on the project and to seek the Commission’s help for total funding,
The Health Department is currently housed on North Court Street in a building constructed over 70 years ago. As the Health Department sought to meet the challenges of COVID in the past few years, the building has presented obstacles due to its dilapidated condition, limited space and lack of accessibility. Parking is an ongoing issue in the Court Street complex as those visiting the Health Department must contend with the Hancock County Courthouse and New Cumberland Municipal Building in finding a parking space. Huff said the Department has been conducting COVID testing in the parking lot.
“We’re very excited,” said Huff who notes that the new building will contain space for lab, clinics, office space and a drive-through garage that will open for testing. “We want to be able to service the public.”
