By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Heath Department celebrated its recently completed remodel with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.
Tuesday's ribbon cutting, with the Hays Chamber, celebrated the remodeling process that began, with the design phase, under previous Health Department Director Jason Kennedy and wrapped up earlier this year.
Current Health Director Kim Reel took over the position in January 2022 and said the $225,000 project was paid for by grant funds.
One of the main parts of the remodel included changes to the entrance of the building at 2507 Canterbury, to improve safety measures for staff and visitors to the office.
Reel said they worked with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on the safety improvements.
“Unfortunately, it was a no-win situation during COVID. It was a very tumultuous time when threats were made to the health department, and there were days that were better than others. There were days that were worse than others, but in the end, everybody's safety was what we had in mind,” Reel said.
Reel said the Ellis County Health Department received threats. She said hearing threats made and carried out against other health departments meant safety was top of mind when it came to the changes to the office in Hays.
“We were doing what we were called to do for the public because that's what we do as community health [department]. But at the same time, nothing that we ever did was right, in the public’s eye,” Reel said.
The remodel also improved the department’s space needs in the front lobby. Reel said since the construction was completed in February, the department has received positive input from the community.
“We've received positive feedback from the community of those that maybe came in during COVID that were kind of shoulder to shoulder with people waiting in the lobby area," Reel said. "It's been a well-received remodel from the community of people that have come through the doors.”
Reel also said she hopes the changes and the programs the department has put together for the community will help the community move on from the negative connotation the health department received during the height of the pandemic and remind the community that the health department has a lot to offer.
“We looked at the entire health of the public during COVID (and) we're still doing that,” Reel said. “Our eye is still on the health of the general public, so we're going to continue to move forward and and offer our services.”
This week the department offered back-to-school physicals at Hays Middle School. They are looking at bringing back a foot care program and travel vaccines. Next month the department is sponsoring a presentation on the dangers of human trafficking with a free public presentation and presentations to the local schools.
“We’re just hoping that people can continue to see us as a positive entity moving forward, instead of the negative perception that the public had simply because of what we were called to do,” Reel said.
You can find out more about the services the Ellis County Health Department offers through its website and on its Facebook page.