McAlester health center gets funding

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Construction is scheduled to start in April on a new 31,000 square foot health center for Pittsburg County.<br/><br/>Michale Echelle, administrator of the county health department,

Friday, December 30th 2005, 10:22 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Construction is scheduled to start in April on a new 31,000 square foot health center for Pittsburg County.

Michale Echelle, administrator of the county health department, says the agency has been leasing a two-story building since 1983. But it's run out of space in the 22,000 square foot building, which was built in the 1930s.

The Council of Bond Oversight gave its approval Thursday to issue up to $4.5-million in tax-exempt bonds for the building.

The county health department will also provide space to the state Health Department. The state will help pay the salaries of county health workers instead of paying rent.

The new building should be ready in 2007.