BOC postpones construction of the Multi-purpose public health facility

WHITE COUNTY, Ga. –The multi-purpose mass care facility that will be used to support public health operations in case of natural hazards or pandemics will be delayed until the Board of Commissioners determines the proper funding mechanism.

When it is constructed, the facility is expected to be used as a preparation and response site located at the Yonah Preserve area north of Cleveland to conduct emergency distribution mass evacuation and serve as a storm shelter.

The County had planned to utilize the nearly $6 million it received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to construct the facility but as Chairman Travis Turner said during Monday’s regular meeting. The federal government required the County to adopt a resolution in August without guidelines as to how the money could be spent. Unfortunately, Turner said, the feds  change the guidelines on a monthly basis.

Due to the caveats that may not mirror the values of the community, Turner said, ““We need to step back and see if there is a wiser way to go about doing what we’re trying to do here. With our research through the Association County Commissioners Georgia (ACCG) and National Association of Commissioners (NACO), the recommendation was that it is more prudent to place the ARPA funds into eligible human resources needs like wages and benefits.”

But Turner added that the multi-purpose facility is still on the radar. “Potentially we will revisit the facility at the first of the new year when we identify a proper funding source.”