The Washington County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to table future space needs Tuesday. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

For the fourth meeting in a row, the Washington County Board of Supervisors tabled action regarding future space needs for Washington County Public Health. The county’s board of health recommend using space through a project with Hobart Historic Restoration (HHR). In December, a workshop was held with the supervisors, the board of health and HHR about the opportunity for the county to rent-to-own the former McCleery Calendar Factory on East 3rd Street after HHR rehabilitates the building.

Tuesday, Supervisor Chairman Richard Young says the supervisors are looking at options for a variety of county departments, including the former Pamida building as well as the former McCleery Calendar Factory. He says, “The problem is in this area as I see it, there’s not a lot of buildings out there ready to move in to with the space that we need.” Young says almost all of the county departments need more room, including the county engineer, the auditor, the recorder, communications and public health. Young said, “We just keep putting, should I say, a band aid on things to keep things going, but eventually water is going to come over the dam here pretty soon, and we’re going to have lots of needs.”

The former McCleery Calendar Factory would not need a bond referendum to fund the project, because it will be financed by HHR and through historic grants. The supervisors are still working through budget work sessions and have tabled the public health item until next week’s meeting.