By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
EL RENO – An architect has been hired to design a renovation project for a new Canadian County Health Department clinic and offices.
Canadian County Commissioners on Dec. 5 voted 3-0 to approve an agreement with MA+ Architecture, LLC and the CCHD for architectural services at the future health department site, 6100 E Hwy 66.
Work is due to begin next spring to update the 33,000-square foot building, which previously housed El Reno’s Halliburton plant.
MA+ Architecture, of Oklahoma City, was selected as project architect after interviews with health department leadership staff and county officials. Fee is 6% of the construction cost.
This highly qualified company’s staff impressed CCHD Director Maggie Jackson and other leaders during their interview, according to Canadian County Commission Chairman Dave Anderson.
“They were the architects for most of the recent school additions in Mustang and did work at the career tech (Canadian Valley),” Anderson said. “They’ve done some health-related facilities as well.
“It was pretty much the consensus that MA+ was the one that we were most comfortable with.”
MA+ Architecture will spend several months preparing design plans for the building’s remodeling.
A groundbreaking to start construction is expected in April.
In June, commissioners spent $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal stimulus funds to purchase the 10-acre property near Highway 66 and Evans Road. They then hired Lingo Construction to oversee the construction process.
This fall, the construction manager identified seven architects to receive a request for proposal.
Four architectural firms participated in the interview session hosted by Lingo Construction.
The CCHD has set aside funds generated from the Canadian County mill levy for this renovation project.
In a related item, Canadian County Commissioners on Dec. 5 approved a right-of-way agreement and settlement with Oklahoma Natural Gas to cross 700-plus feet of frontage at the future CCHD site on Hwy 66.
ONG has paid Canadian County $18,000 and would reimburse the county for any damage.
Chairman Anderson asked ONG representatives to bore underneath any driveway or structure.
Canadian County now owns health department buildings at 1023 E Vandament in Yukon and 100 S Rock Island in El Reno.
Both the Yukon and El Reno CCHD sites will move into the newly renovated Canadian County building, on the south side of Highway 66 just west of Canadian Valley Technology Center.
The future CCHD site was formerly part of the El Reno Halliburton plant, which closed in December 2019 when the company relocated most of the operations to its Duncan field plant.
THIS AND THAT …
In other action at its weekly meeting Dec. 5, Canadian County Commissioners approved:
- Seeking bids for a rehabilitation project along four miles of Britton Road and alternate routes between El Reno and Yukon in District 1. A pavement overlay and spot repairs would provide more depth so the roadway lasts longer before deteriorating, Commissioner Marc Hader said.
- Awarding a $15,703.98 quote to Ezell’s Refrigeration to replace a five-ton heating and air conditioning unit for the District Attorney’s Office on the first floor of the Canadian County Courthouse. A second vendor submitted a $19,629.98 quote.
- An agreement between the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center and Camp Hope America 2023. This is the third year the center will send youth in domestic violence and traumatic situations to the year-long camp. The Camp Hope program is offered during the summer at Fort Gibson and Guthrie, and in monthly group sessions at the center for the other seasons. Cost is $3,500.
- An agreement between District 1 and Van Keppel Co. to rent a road widener. Cost is $3,000 for a four-week month.
Canadian County Undersheriff Kevin Ward presented the weekly county jail report showing a total inmate population of 217, including 183 prisoners at the El Reno detention center and 34 in other counties.
