John Coffelt, Editor

Members of the Coffee County Government, the Coffee County Health Department and Curl Construction met at the site of the new $5 million county Health Department facility on Wednesday Nov. 20 at the Manchester Tullahoma Joint Industrial Park to announce work has begun.

Coffee County Mayor Dennis Hunt said the project was split into two phases so that civil engineering could be completed and bid out in time to beat the winter weather.

“Curl Construction got the bid to do the site prep,” Hunt said. “Civil engineering is where the mud puddle is going to be. The building itself is under design and ready to go to the construction bid process.”

At that time, an official groundbreaking ceremony will be held.

The site prep work includes leveling by earthmoving equipment to make a flat location to pour a foundation.  

The new facility will be approximately 14,000 square feet. The funds for the project come from a state matching grant specifically earmarked for new county health departments across the state. The county’s portion of the cost will come from American Recovery Act money.

“A medical facility is pretty in-depth in its design and concept,” Hunt said. “The state of Tennessee and our own health department officials has been hands-on from the start.”

Public Health Office Supervisor Cortney Floyd is eagerly awaiting the new facility’s opening.

“I’ve been with the health department for going on six years,” she said. “I’ve gone from the Manchester office, which was very small and we were usually overrun with patients…This is going to be great not just for the employees but also for the patients.”    

The site plan for the facility was approved at the June 3 Coffee County Planning Commission meeting.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.