Casper-Natrona County Health Department seeking new building; city offering space as temporary fix to congestion problems
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper-Natrona County Health Department (CNCHD) is working with Natrona County officials as it seeks a new building with its 475 South Spruce Street location facing some problems.
Casper City Manager Carter Napier told the Casper City Council on Tuesday that as a temporary solution to the health department dealing with a high volume of traffic, the CNCHD was requesting the ability to utilize city-owned property located across from the health department on Spruce Street.
The city refers to that property as the “Source Gas property” because it purchased the space from Source Gas years ago, according to Napier. He said that the health department was requesting temporary use of the space in order to help offset congestion issues in what he described as “their decaying building right now.”
CNCHD Executive Director Anna Kinder told the council that in the long-term, the health department is working with the county to find new building arrangements. Meanwhile, an architecture firm has recommended that use of the city-owned space would help alleviate some of the congestion issues the health department is currently dealing with.
Kinder suggested that traffic congestion issues could be exacerbated in the spring if nothing is done due to more traffic expected in the area when the new State of Wyoming office building located nearby is operational.
“In March, we anticipate an extra 350 cars down there with the opening of the state building,” Kinder said.
She said that temporary use of the city-owned property could help the health department avoid causing congestion issues on Spruce Street and Midwest Avenue. Kinder said there are times when traffic flows at the health department blocks both streets.
Kinder added that with traffic congestion at the health department, there are times when people are unable to drive out of its parking lot and this can also cause disruption to garbage service when the alley way behind the department sees congestion.
She said that the health department is only asking the city for use of the land and that the department would itself pay for things like trailers to be used for COVID-19 testing, temporary office space and additional temperature controlled space.
Vice Mayor Ray Pacheco said he witnessed the congestion issues Kinder was referring to first-hand on Friday. He said that people were outside of the department waiting to receive services. Pacheco added that he thinks that the city should meet the health department’s request as he expects the congestion issues could increase as more parents take their children to receive COVID-19 vaccines and more people go to get their own vaccinations.
Kinder told the council that the health department saw a high number of patients on Friday: “We actually saw 169 on Friday and I’m pretty sure 90% of those were between 4 and 5 o’clock. There was not a staff member that was not engaged in this activity.”
Council member Bruce Knell asked for some assurance that the health department’s use of the city-owned lot would indeed be temporary. Napier said that as he understood the request, the health department would need the property for around 18 months.
Natrona County Attorney Eric Nelson said that he has been working with Kinder and that the county is “actively looking at long-term solutions” to their space problems. He added that he would help draft an agreement that would ensure the city could take back control of the property if there is a need for that before a long-term solution for the health department is found.
Knell said that with assurances that the health department’s use of the facility would be temporary and with the city’s ability to take back control of the property, he was in favor of supporting the health department’s request.
Council member Kyle Gamroth said that he has previously worked for the health department and is aware of the problems with the current space: “It is not a great building to be in … I hope we can help ease the burden.”
