January 16, 2007

Health District plans new office to meet Benewah public health needs

St. Maries—Panhandle Health District (PHD) will build an 8,000-square-foot, two-story office in downtown St. Maries this year as its new Benewah County home.

        The new building between Eighth and Ninth streets on Center will house PHD services that are now offered in the Gordon Leuty building on 8th St. PHD plans to sell the 5,100-square-foot Leuty building after the January 2008 completion of its new office.

        “We’ve outgrown our facility,” says Marlow Thompson, chairman of the PHD Board of Health. “We’re committed to serving the public health needs in Benewah County to the best of our ability, and to do that we need more space and more parking.

        “We’re very pleased to be in town. We couldn't have found a better location.”

        The $1.5 million project will replace the Spicer building, which the Health District is in the process of purchasing. The Spicer Building with its five businesses and four apartments was on the market for three years, providing time for tenants to find new homes.

        PHD's new offices will more than double its capacity in Benewah County. In addition to a generous parking area, the office will include a community meeting room that also could serve as an Emergency Operations Center during public health and county emergencies.

        Clinical programs, such as immunizations and breast cancer screenings, will have expanded space for greater customer service. Environmental Health will include space where clients can open maps and charts.

        Architects West plans to include local culture in the building design.

        Construction will start this spring after the April demolition of the Spicer building. PHD services will continue in the Leuty building during construction.

        The Health District’s eventual departure from and sale of the Leuty building will necessitate a new home for the non-profit East Benewah Council senior meal site. PHD has provided a dining space free for the congregate senior meals for 16 years, although a meal site is not one of the Health District’s legislated services.

        PHD’s move offers St. Maries’ leaders opportunities to provide local seniors with a new dining site and demonstrate support for the local senior population.

        The sale of the Leuty building plus $900,000 available after the construction of the Health District’s headquarters in Hayden last year and tax-free financing from the Idaho Health Facilities Authority will cover most of the project costs.

        The Board of Health’s final approval of the project is scheduled for Jan. 25.

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