The Union County Health Department is still awaiting further input before proceeding to repair damages to the local fairgrounds.
UCHD and the Union County Fair Board agree that fairgrounds roads were damaged during the health department’s COVID-19 drive-thru mass vaccination efforts.
According to information from the health department, between 10,000 and 20,000 vehicles passed over the grounds from the end of December through mid-May. Throughout the winter, extreme weather conditions also affected the roads.
As part of the standard demobilization process once clinics ended, conversations between the health department and Fair Board occurred surrounding damage repair options.
With the support of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and Union County Emergency Management Agency, UCHD applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recovery funds to cover the cost of repairs.
The FEMA application required a bid to serve as a starting point in requesting funds.
The health department solicited bids from several companies but has still received just one estimate for the cost of repairs – $282,785.36 from Goodwin Services.
UCHD Public Information Officer Jennifer Thrush said the bid has been submitted to the Union County Engineer for review. The engineer’s office has been at the fairgrounds for assessments but has not yet provided a report.
The application submitted to FEMA is still in the agency’s queue and has not been denied or approved, Thrush said.
If the FEMA application is denied, Thrush said UCHD will reconvene with the Fair Board and local elected officials to discuss other options for funding.
UCHD temporarily returned to the fairgrounds to administer COVID-19 booster shots through the month of October.
Thrush said four factors made the fairgrounds the most suitable site to reinstate drive-thru clinics: the large potential volume of individuals seeking booster shots, a population of individuals with mobility limitations, a population at high risk for serious illness and high level of COVID-19 spread within the community.
She said other smaller, county-owned options were ruled out due to “potential traffic congestion concerns and high-risk for potential damage to locations given high traffic volumes during potential wet conditions.”