STOCKTON — Now that San Joaquin  County in recent years has built a new administrative center, human services, courthouse and hospital structures to replace outdated facilities and to accommodate growth a replacement facility for Public Health Services is up next.

The Board of Supervisors Tuesday will decide whether to proceed with the $25.5 million project after being presented with the facility replacement study. In order to move forward the board needs to make a $1.3 million budget adjustment and retain Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects for $1.2 million.

The preferred location is at the existing Public Health Services site at East Hazelton Avenue and Wilson Way due to its central location near the Crosstown Freeway (Highway 4) west of Highway 99 and direct access to Regional Transit routes.

The new complex would require 19,721 square feet as part of the base project with another 8,089 square feet for a Public Health Services lab. The base project is projected to cost $18 million and the lab $7 million. With master planning costs factored in, the overall cost would be $25.5 million. The county currently has $21.3 million in available funding. That leaves a $4.2 million shortfall.

Construction could start in August 2020 with occupancy taking place in August 2021.

The complex would house health services administration, vital records, immunization, community services, communicable diseases, emergency preparedness, public health lab, health promotion and chronic disease prevention, maternal child and adolescent health, Women-Infant-&-Children (WIC), children’s medical services, San Joaquin General Hospital Clinical Services, behavioral health services, emergency medical services, and veterans’ services.

The Board of Supervisors meets Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 9 a.m. in the sixth floor board chambers of the San Joaquin County Administration Building, 44 N. San Joaquin St., Stockton.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com