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The future of the Salina-Saline County Health Department is unclear after its building was closed because of concerns its roof might collapse.
Salina city commissioners voted Monday to approve a contract that will temporarily move the department to two buildings owned by Salina Regional Health Center.
Salina building officials closed the building Thursday after inspectors said its roof was in danger of collapsing.
Our news partners the Salina Journal reports the building is about 95 years old. The health department has used it since 1994. The county owns the building and the city maintains it.
After the structure was closed, the city's search and rescue team and some rural fire departments spent three days building 10 support structures to reinforce it.
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The Salina-Saline County Health Department closed its doors Thursday after an inspection found the building’s roof unsafe.
The facility at 125 W. Elm in Salina. will be closed until further notice. The Health Department says the building’s trusses are cracked and many are bowing.
"The only option we know that we have to do right now is remove employees from the building as soon as possible for their safety," said Dr. Trent Davis, chairman of the health board, told our news partners at The Salina Journal.
Health Department operations will be temporarily suspended. Salina City Commissioners will meet at eight o'clock and Saline County Commissioners will meet at eleven o'clock Friday to discuss a temporary relocation.
The county owns the 95-year-old building and the city maintains it. The Health Department says an engineering review of feasible options for eliminating the unsafe roof condition will immediately.
Clients with upcoming appointments will be contacted by health department staff to reschedule or make other arrangements for receiving services.