Have heads been rolling for nada?

1970s deal clouds health agency move

There may be a snag in the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department's plan to move across town.
By Eric Eyre
Staff writer


There may be a snag in the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department's plan to move across town.
A clause in a 1975 contract used to secure federal funding to build the Health Department requires that the site's use remain "undisturbed for a period of not less than 50 years" - or until 2025.
On Thursday, health board members voted unanimously to ask the Kanawha County Commission to review the decades-old stipulation.
County and city officials want the health agency to move from its present site across from the Charleston Civic Center to make way for a new downtown hotel.
"If it turns out this property is forfeited to the federal government or can't be sold, we're all going to look foolish," said health board member Stephen Weber, a Charleston lawyer who reviewed the document this week. "It's the county's property. They are the ones who need to investigate this."
A previous clause in the county's 1975 agreement with the federal government states that the property was required to remain as a health department until 1995, which it has.
But health board members aren't sure how to interpret the requirement that the site stay undisturbed for 50 years.
"It's clearly a question that needs to be raised," Weber said. "We need to find out if this is an issue, and if not, then fine."
The health board has tentatively approved a plan to move the agency's Lee Street headquarters to the city-owned Morris Square warehouse beside Appalachian Power Park.

There may be a snag in the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department's plan to move across town.
A clause in a 1975 contract used to secure federal funding to build the Health Department requires that the site's use remain "undisturbed for a period of not less than 50 years" - or until 2025.
On Thursday, health board members voted unanimously to ask the Kanawha County Commission to review the decades-old stipulation.
County and city officials want the health agency to move from its present site across from the Charleston Civic Center to make way for a new downtown hotel.
"If it turns out this property is forfeited to the federal government or can't be sold, we're all going to look foolish," said health board member Stephen Weber, a Charleston lawyer who reviewed the document this week. "It's the county's property. They are the ones who need to investigate this."
A previous clause in the county's 1975 agreement with the federal government states that the property was required to remain as a health department until 1995, which it has.
But health board members aren't sure how to interpret the requirement that the site stay undisturbed for 50 years.
"It's clearly a question that needs to be raised," Weber said. "We need to find out if this is an issue, and if not, then fine."
The health board has tentatively approved a plan to move the agency's Lee Street headquarters to the city-owned Morris Square warehouse beside Appalachian Power Park.
Also Thursday, board members:

Postponed hiring an interim health director to replace outgoing Executive Director Dr. Kerry Gateley, who's leaving July 9 to take a similar job in Lynchburg, Va. About a dozen doctors have applied for the interim post.

A three-member committee plans to hire an acting health director by the end of next week, and then submit the candidate for final approval July 17.
"We have to have someone in place before Dr. Gateley leaves," said Brenda Isaac, a health board member who also works as lead nurse for Kanawha County schools. "We're getting more applicants than we thought we would get."

Health officials have rescinded plans to charge Sternwheel Regatta festival and Taste of Charleston vendors a $25 inspection fee. The department has waived the fee for nearly 30 years.

The department considered reinstating the charge after Charleston Mayor Danny Jones persuaded City Council to withhold $100,000 from the health agency's budget earlier this year.
The agency withdrew its plan to charge the fee this week.