The Lee County Health Department has vacated its building at 2218 Avenue H in Fort Madison. It's unclear how long the department will be displaced and what prompted the decision.
County Attorney Ross Braden said in a statement Thursday afternoon that he recommended the relocation to the north Lee County office building at 933 Avenue H in Fort Madison. He said he made the decision after a concern was brought to the attention of the health department on Wednesday.
He could not be reached for further comment.
Lee County Health Department Administrator Julie Schilling said some of her employees would work out of the county office building. She said others would work from home while a few could use a small office in Keokuk.
Schilling said the relocation has prompted her department to cancel a TB-testing clinic at the health department building previously scheduled for April 24. She said no decision has been made on whether to cancel or reschedule a vaccination clinic set for April 27.
The relocation will also affect the series of public forums planned ahead of the health department's bond referendum on May 2. Voters are being asked to allow the county to borrow up to $2.6 million for a new health department building near the county jail.
Schilling said the third and final forum was to be held at the health department building in Fort Madison on April 25. She said that event will now be held on April 26 at the Fort Madison Public Library.
The other two forums will remain as scheduled
- April 20 - Donnellson Community Meeting Room (7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.)
- April 24 - Keokuk Public Library (7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.)
