Wood County Commissioners Robert Tebay, Jimmy Colombo and Blair Couch discussed the proposed move by the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department to St. Joseph’s Landing during Thursday’s regular meeting as Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer listens and answers questions. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The final details are being put into place on the proposed lease for the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department to be able to move into St. Joseph’s Landing, county commissioners said Thursday.

The Wood County Commission had “Discuss and Consider Lease for MOV Health Department” on its agenda for Thursday, however health department board member Patsy Hardy and Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure were not able to attend the meeting and officials wanted them there to address certain aspects about the proposed lease.

The MOVHD offices were closed after Memorial Day when a break in a water line caused a lot of damage to their building at 211 Sixth St. in Parkersburg. Since that time, the health department’s operations have been conducted at different sites around town.

The health department is planning to take over the former St. Joseph’s Hospital Emergency Department and the fourth floor in the medical office building on the grounds. They are planning to take over space for their Women and Children’s Services where PARS had set up operations for a couple of years so there were exam rooms in place and other things that won’t have to be built to accommodate the health department when they move in.

The MOVHD board had a meeting recently at St. Joseph’s Landing where board members got to see the space the health department wants to utilize, said Wood County Commission President Blair Couch who serves on the board.

Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department Executive Director Eric Walker talks about the proposed move for the health department to St. Joseph’s Landing. Officials are still going over the terms of the lease which is expected to be finalized next week. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“We had a broad consensus that this makes the most sense for us,” he said. “With parking accessibility and being along a bus route, it is perfect.”

Officials also commended the available parking at St. Joseph’s compared to the building downtown on Sixth Street.

Hardy is going to offer some proposed changes to the lease and forward those to the other board members so they can adjust the proposed lease, officials said, adding she had two pages of notes regarding things she felt needed to be addressed in the lease. She is a former St. Joseph’s Hospital CEO and the head of the State Department of Health and Human Resources.

There is also talk about having refrigerators and freezers hooked up to backup generators on site as they have medications that require cold temperatures for storage.

MOVHD Executive Director Eric Walker said all of the staff at the health department are thrilled about the move.

“I have not heard anyone say anything negative about this move,” he said “They are all really excited.”

Couch said the complex is already home to the Department of Veterans Administration, the Workforce Development Board as well as St. Joseph’s Recovery.

A final rent amount has not been finalized yet, but officials think it could be around $20,000 a month. The final amount is expected to be in place by Monday, officials said.

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said many people have no idea what happens at the health department.

“I don’t think many people realize the scope of what the health department does,” he said to Walker. “You have a lot of clients.

“When we are talking about changing buildings, it is not about just changing buildings, but serving more people.”

Colombo and Walker agreed that the new location will have a more “clinical” and “professional” appearance for the public coming in to get a variety of services from the health department.

“I like the feel of the building,” Colombo said.

Walker said once the space is secure they will begin the process of moving in stages.

“We would do it over time, primarily by departments,” Walker said. “As things are completed and ready to move in, each department would move in turn.”

Walker said the priority would be getting their Women and Infant Children’s programs in. That mostly needs repainting at this time, he said. Their clinical services will be going into the area that had the old St. Joseph’s Hospital Emergency Room.

“There will be some construction that will need to be done there,” Walker said. “That will be a priority.”

Next will be getting their finance department in place as those people are currently working remotely and hooked into a server that has been operating slowly.

IT systems, internet and secure servers will need to be put in place.

“It will take time,” Walker said. “It will be a process.”

St. Joseph’s Landing Building Manager Jon Defibaugh was scheduled to appear on Thursday. He is also expected to attend Monday’s meeting.

“Everyone will be here Monday,” Couch said.

In other business, the county is still working on addressing heating and cooling issues at the Shaver Judicial Building where the Wood County Circuit Courts are located.

Judge Jason Wharton, who appeared before the commission, said it was pushing 80 degrees in one of the courtrooms one day on 70 degree days outside. Next week it is expected to be in the 90s and court officials are afraid it will get hotter during jury trials.

The building’s air system has been operating at around 25%.

A part is on order and it was shipped, but they don’t know where it is. Plans are in place for the air systems to be evaluated in that building and see what needs to be done.