Orchard Hill move will displace mental health office

WASHINGTON — County Supervisors say plans to move Public Health offices to Orchard Hill’s Building 2 in the coming years would displace Hillcrest Family Services. The office is a provider of mental health crisis services, according to an undated flyer on the county government’s website.

While the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve an ongoing lease agreement with Hillcrest, officials warned that it wouldn’t last forever.

The 2-page monthly lease runs through June 30, 2024, but has an automatic renewal clause if it’s not terminated before then. The annual cost for Hillcrest comes in at a cool $31,040 according to county records.

Supervisor Jack Seward Jr., who is also a board member of the recently formed MHASI mental health and disability service region, said the office was an important part of the area’s mental health network. He said he would keep Hillcrest managers in the loop as plans developed.

“Because we are entering a period where we are trying to make some plans with Orchard Hill, we wanted to bring this to the attention of everybody,” he said. “We’re not planning on doing anything right now, and in any case there will be a 90-day minimum (advanced notice) likely more than that.”

The relocation of county public health is part of a $2.44 million compromise plan between the county and local business leaders. While decision-makers initially planned a bigger move, pushback from residents and the Washington Chamber of Commerce prompted them to leave high-traffic offices like the assessor, auditor, recorder and treasurer downtown.

Because the local government intends to use American Rescue Plan Act money for the renovations, it has to act before certain deadlines. A fact sheet from the U.S. Treasury says ARPA money must be obligated before Jan. 1, 2025, and entirely spent before Jan. 1, 2027.

That means the clock is ticking for renovation work, according to Supervisor Marcus Fedler, who said he expected the mental health center to remain in Washington.

“Finding space in town that size, shouldn’t be too terribly difficult, I wouldn’t imagine,” he said. “It’s something they should probably start thinking about doing. I think when we do communicate with Hillcrest about this, we need to let them know that sometime in the next 12-18 months, we’re going to need that space to start construction. Maybe less.”

Representatives at Hillcrest Family Services declined to comment.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com