The Saline County Commission unanimously decides to determine exactly how much it will cost to repair the existing Salina / Saline County Health Department.

A structure problem with the roof caused the agency to close over a year ago, on May 31, 2012. Since that time, city and county commissioners have been trying to come up with a plan for a permanent facility.

Currently the health department is operating in two temporary locations, one at the former Rema Bakeware building at 625 E. North Street, and the other at the former St. John’s Hospital facility at 710 E. Ash Street.

Commissioners Tuesday heard about an hour of comments before coming to their decision. Most of the comments related to the agency needing more and updated space.

There are three options that are currently being considered:

1. Repair the current facility

2. Tear down the current facility and build a new, expanded facility

3. Purchase a vacant bank building at a location further south that has more than enough space, and refurbish it

Commissioner John Price said that in deciding to get an estimate on exactly how much it will cost to fix the current facility, it is not necessarily what the county wants to do. “I want to make it clear, this is not a decision” he said.