SCHD Considers Options for Needed Building
The Ballot Question Failed by around 500 votes
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April 12, 2018
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Isaac Estes-Jones
The Stone County Health Department is going back to the drawing board after the tax increase to pay for a new building they proposed failed in last week’s election.
“The need for a facility like this in our community has not gone away. Stone County Health Department exists solely to serve and protect the health of our residents and visitors and a facility like this would allow us to better serve the public,” said Pam Burnett, Stone County Health Department Administrator.
The Health Department requested an increase of the Health Department personal property tax line item to $0.157 per $100 of valuation, essentially doubling the line from $0.0785 per $100. The funds would have been set aside to pay for a modern, centralized facility for the Health Department, which has outgrown it’s facilities in Galena and Branson West.
“We’ve been in this building in Galena since we were founded by voters in 1977. This building was never meant to house this many employees and programs,” Burnett said.
The measure, presented as Stone County Health Department Question on ballots during the April 3 General Municipal Election, failed. Of the 3,598 votes cast on the measure, 2,034 voted no. 1,564 voted yes, a difference of 470. The matter was actually carried in the precincts of Flat Creek B, Ruth A, Ruth B and Ruth C.
“While the initiative did not pass, we thank each and every voter who took the time to vote and have your voice heard,” said Burnett.
“Although the initiative did not pass, the need for additional space remains. Our main office is located in the same building on the square where we started 40 years ago. The facility is a 60-year-old building and was never designed as a health department. Employees work around design issues and lack adequate space, often sharing offices, conducting formal meetings and evaluations in a break room, and using hallways as storage space,” Burnett continued.
Some of the offices in the Galena office do double or triple duty, with some serving as offices for two different employees as well as storage for programs.
The new facility would have alleviated those stresses, with adequate office and storage space, plus a community meeting room and a demonstration kitchen for healthy cooking classes. It also would have been home to community gardens and trails on the 23 acre property in Reeds Spring.
SCHD purchased the land in fall of 2017. Before placing this question on the ballot, the Health Department worked with an architect out of Springfield to get a better idea of what the facility would cost to build.
“We are heading back to the drawing board and taking with us all of the feedback we’ve received during this process to determine our next steps forward. In the meantime, we’ll continue to provide outstanding services to the people of Stone County,” Burnett said.
“We are grateful for the amazing team of people who rallied around this initiative and spoke out at events in favor, put up yard signs or simply took the time to tell their friends and neighbors about this project. They helped us tell our story – the story of how, through our public health services, we touch the lives of each and every person who lives, works and plays in Stone County,” Burnett concluded.
The Stone County Health Department will continue to operate out of the two main facilities while the health board weighs the options going forward.
The Stone County Health Department is going back to the drawing board after the tax increase to pay for a new building they proposed failed in last week’s election.
“The need for a facility like this in our community has not gone away. Stone County Health Department exists solely to serve and protect the health of our residents and visitors and a facility like this would allow us to better serve the public,” said Pam Burnett, Stone County Health Department Administrator.
The Health Department requested an increase of the Health Department personal property tax line item to $0.157 per $100 of valuation, essentially doubling the line from $0.0785 per $100. The funds would have been set aside to pay for a modern, centralized facility for the Health Department, which has outgrown it’s facilities in Galena and Branson West.
“We’ve been in this building in Galena since we were founded by voters in 1977. This building was never meant to house this many employees and programs,” Burnett said.
The measure, presented as Stone County Health Department Question on ballots during the April 3 General Municipal Election, failed. Of the 3,598 votes cast on the measure, 2,034 voted no. 1,564 voted yes, a difference of 470. The matter was actually carried in the precincts of Flat Creek B, Ruth A, Ruth B and Ruth C.
“While the initiative did not pass, we thank each and every voter who took the time to vote and have your voice heard,” said Burnett.
“Although the initiative did not pass, the need for additional space remains. Our main office is located in the same building on the square where we started 40 years ago. The facility is a 60-year-old building and was never designed as a health department. Employees work around design issues and lack adequate space, often sharing offices, conducting formal meetings and evaluations in a break room, and using hallways as storage space,” Burnett continued.
Some of the offices in the Galena office do double or triple duty, with some serving as offices for two different employees as well as storage for programs.
The new facility would have alleviated those stresses, with adequate office and storage space, plus a community meeting room and a demonstration kitchen for healthy cooking classes. It also would have been home to community gardens and trails on the 23 acre property in Reeds Spring.
SCHD purchased the land in fall of 2017. Before placing this question on the ballot, the Health Department worked with an architect out of Springfield to get a better idea of what the facility would cost to build.
“We are heading back to the drawing board and taking with us all of the feedback we’ve received during this process to determine our next steps forward. In the meantime, we’ll continue to provide outstanding services to the people of Stone County,” Burnett said.
“We are grateful for the amazing team of people who rallied around this initiative and spoke out at events in favor, put up yard signs or simply took the time to tell their friends and neighbors about this project. They helped us tell our story – the story of how, through our public health services, we touch the lives of each and every person who lives, works and plays in Stone County,” Burnett concluded.
The Stone County Health Department will continue to operate out of the two main facilities while the health board weighs the options going forward.