Davis buying land for health facility

CLEARFIELD — Davis County is another step closer to building a new health department building in Clearfield.

Tuesday night, the Clearfield City Council voted to sell 4 acres of land located at about 22 S. Depot Street — across from Clearfield City Hall — where the $9 million, 45,000-square-foot building is planned for construction.

Tuesday's vote means it's now the Davis County Commission's turn to consider the purchase agreement for the five parcels of land, the sale price of which will be disclosed later.

By Aug. 4, the sales contract between the county and the city is expected to be finalized. Groundbreaking could begin in the fall with construction to be completed a year later.

The new building would bring an estimated 120 jobs to Clearfield, said city manager Chris Hillman.

It will house the Midtown Community Health Center, currently located in Farmington, a Women, Infants and Children clinic, food-handler training, vital records and laboratories — all of which will be located on the ground floor for an easy interface with the public, Davis County Health Department director Lewis Garrett has said.

The current health department building is the former county jail. It's cramped and has malfunctioning heating and air conditioning systems, officials said.

Bringing the health department to Clearfield is expected to play a role in revitalizing the city's downtown area, Hillman said.

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