CORTLAND — The Trumbull County Combined Health District is taking its time adjusting to changes that come with its new location in Cortland.

TCCHD, a separate entity from the Warren City Health District, finished its move into the former Farmers National Bank building in downtown Cortland on Dec. 8, 2023. Director of Environmental Health Services Kristopher Wilster explained that the most significant factor in the move has been realizing the amount of additional space that came with it.

“I think the hardest thing has been knowing where things are,” Wilster said. “It’s the simple things, from someone saying ‘where did you guys put the copy paper?’ and then I have to say ‘well that’s downstairs in Room 15.’ And ‘which one is 15? I’ve never been downstairs,’ that sort of thing.”

The office never had a full “mail room,” in the old building, Wilster said. Now the organization, at 194 W. Main St., utilizes just that as it stores mail in each employee’s mailbox, in a mailroom.

“We’re getting more settled every day,” Wilster continued. “It’s a long process and we still have stuff we’re trying to figure out. But every day gets better, every week it gets better. We understand more how the building flows and what we’re going to do.”

Wilster described the adjustment as “day by day.”

As it is physically in the center of the county, the new location offers a more convenient proximity to Trumbull County residents in rural areas.

“I always thought that there was some confusion between the Warren City Health Department and the County Health Department,” Wilster explained. “That doesn’t seem to be confusing anymore. If you ask people from Girard or Niles, they might tell you they have to drive further, I guess technically. You can ask some people in the northern part and they probably think it’s great.”

During a county commissioners meeting earlier this year, Trumbull County commissioner Denny Malloy said the new location of the health district will benefit to the entire county.

“It will be closer to the people it actually serves,” Malloy said.

Throughout the week of the move, Dec. 4 to Dec. 8, the Health District’s computers were unresponsive, which caused a setback in the workflow, Wilster said.

“Anything that had a timeline before the end of the year was difficult with the computers being down,” he said. “We had to stop the mail and forward the mail, so anything sent to the other office took some time to get here.”

As for the most beneficial part of being in the new building, Wilster, again referred to space. Even for residents, with more parking, a larger lobby, and more desk windows, accommodations have grown along with the increase in square feet.

“The good news is, we do a lot more walking, so I can get my exercise,” Wilster said.

The old building, at 12,000 square-feet, didn’t have a basement. The new place is approximately 22,000-square feet.

“The basement is where we have a kitchen and the storage,” Wilster said. “So, we’ve got that worked out pretty well. It helps to have two elevators in this building. But we just kind of pressed pause on the upstairs because at this point in time I don’t think anybody knows where we’re at with it. We have so much space here that we don’t have an overflow of stuff that needs to go there.”

One diverse feature of the new building is a four-lane drive-thru attached to its back side. Wilster said the area will remain useful for residents and employees as car ports during inclement weather. In addition, the backside will eventually be used as a pickup area for car seat giveaways and classes.

PURCHASING

The Western Reserve Port Authority observed June discussions between the health district and Cortland officials, who finalized the purchase of the nearby parking lot at 181 W. Main St. in October. Negotiated down to $72,500 from $100,000, city Mayor Deidre Petrosky said it will be used for additional parking spaces for downtown business and community events.

Migliozzi said the health department, on its own, purchased the building for $550,000, after it was appraised at $600,000. Along with the price, he said an additional cost was incurred for movers.

OPEN HOUSE

The Trumbull County Combined Health District will host an open house 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday to introduce residents, visitors, friends of employees and families to the new building layout.

“There’s going to be staggered tours and light refreshments,” Wilster said. “We’re still ironing that out.”

Frank Migliozzi, Trumbull County health commissioner, and other county administrators are expected to attend.