MADRAS, OR -- Jefferson County's long-term goal of getting a health and wellness campus is about to become reality, thanks to last minute action by state lawmakers. "We've got ourselves a $4.1 million match from the state to help both Mosaic and Jefferson County Public Health go forward with putting together a really nice health campus at St. Charles Madras," says County Commissioner Kelly Simmelink. 

According to Simmelink, the current facility is no longer workable, "We'd come up against some much needed repairs in our current state, and it was going to be very, very costly." The grant from the Oregon Lottery was included in a bill that passed Sunday, the final hours of the Legislative session. "This is a project that we're desperately in need of," Simmelink tells KBND News, "And, with some good partnerships, and with great help from legislative, it really came together, and it's fantastic."

Jefferson County and Mosaic Medical are each contributing $2.1 million, with St. Charles Health System providing the land, valued at $500,000. The new buildings will be 21,200 square feet total, shared by County Public Health and Mosaic Medical, "Basically, what it would be, is that you're a very, very short walk across a sidewalk from vital services, whether they're provided by Jefferson County Public Health, or by Mosaic Medical." He adds, "What it's going to ensure is that, if you need an appointment, based on what came out of Public Health, or came out of Mosaic, the hospital's right there, within 100 yards." Simmelink says the next order of business is to find a construction manager and architect to get the project underway.