Public input heard on proposed building purchase for Wicomico County Health Department

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md.- Wicomico County residents and the greater community let their voices be heard as the health department could soon have a new home.

A public hearing was held Tuesday tonight at the Wicomico County Council meeting for the potential purchase of a building off Mount Hermon Road. That building has a price tag of over 3.6 million dollars.

County Executive Julie Giordano told us the goal is to increase health equity and make the department more accessible. “We have a building downtown that really needs some TLC. We’re hoping that moving the health department out of Hurdle building and open up opportunities for a developer to continue that vision downtown,” Giordano said.

“Selling the Hurdle building will help reimburse some of that cost. Verizon is also in there until 2025 so we will have a tenant for a little bit of time. We’ll make some money back from that as well.”

After Tuesday tonight’s public hearing, Giordano said the council will then vote to approve the measure. Giordano also tells us the measure has been a collaborate effort from the executive and legislative branches.

Plans for the project are anticipated to be drawn up by February.