The Hamilton County Commission is expected next week to consider a $327,000 contract to renovate portions of the McDaniel Building for an employee wellness center.
Commissioners discussed the contract at their regular agenda meeting Thursday.
Becky Barnes, who heads the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, said the wellness center will include a gym with cardio and strength equipment as well as room for educational classes.
"It's really the progressive thing for employers to do," Ms. Barnes said.
The wellness center, which is expected to open by the end of the year, would replace an older, outdated facility maintained by the county at the Mayfield Annex on Seventh Street. It would also be the second health-oriented function of the county's McDaniel Building on North Highland Park Avenue.
The county also recently approved a contract for an employee pharmacy at the building.
Rebecca Hunter, the county's director of human resources, said the pharmacy and wellness center will have a similar goal: to save the county money as a result of reduced health care costs.
However, she could not pinpoint what the savings for the wellness center might be. The pharmacy is expected to save the county $2.3 million in its prescription medication costs over three years.
"(Our insurance) is self funded," Ms. Hunter said. "The healthier our employees are, the less medical claims you pay."
Commissioners are set to review the contract with J&J Contractors at their meeting on Wednesday. The contract will cover the renovation part of the project.
In other business, the county announced that its Purchasing Department received the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing's Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award.
According to a news release sent by a spokesman for County Mayor Claude Ramsey, the award "formally recognizes excellence in public procurement."
Purchasing Department Director Ken Blankenship said the county's purchasing department oversees the process of buying goods and services for county government. It also oversees the county's competitive bid process.
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