photo by: Kevin Anderson/Journal-World File Photo

The Lawrence-Douglas County health department's home at the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine St., is pictured in this file photo from July 2010.

A $720,000 renovation to the health department — funded largely by federal pandemic money — is about to get underway and will cause a temporary relocation of clinic services, according to a news release from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) will fund $410,000 of the project; the remaining $310,000 will come from the department’s reserve fund.

The department’s clinic services will move from the first floor to the second floor of the Community Health Facility at 200 Maine St. The clinic will be closed on Oct. 1 and 2 for the move, after which clinic services will resume on the second floor until the renovations are complete — estimated to occur by the end of the year.

The renovation project includes new flooring, cabinetry and paint, among other improvements. Cleanable rubber flooring will replace carpet and cabinets in the pharmacy, and labs will be reconfigured to provide a better working environment. A 1,200-square-foot command center will be created on the second floor for public health management activities. The entry door and reception desk will also be upgraded to ensure they are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“We are excited to start this project and look forward to providing best practice standards in our delivery of health care services to the public,” Director of Clinic Services Linda Craig said in the release. “It has been 21 years since the clinic has been updated, so we are very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to sharing the results with the community once the renovation is completed.”

The health department’s clinic provides services such as immunizations, family planning and STD testing and counseling. The second floor offices are for staff working in community health, informatics, environmental health, child care licensing and administration. Those employees will continue providing services from their homes or in the community, the release states.

Correction: This article was changed to reflect the correct dates the clinic will be closed.