Wellness Center set for January opening

Despite heavy rains over the past few months which have caused some delays in the construction of the Faith Community Hospital Wellness Center, work has begun to roll again.

FCH Administrator Frank Beaman said steel and framing for the facility are now up. More importantly the roof decking is expected to be installed next week.

Beaman said that will be huge as far as continued construction is concerned and that the facility is getting into the homestretch.

“Once we get the decking on, everything will begin to move into place,” Beaman said. “When things are dry you can get a lot of work done no matter what the weather is doing outside.”

The decking should take less than a week to be completed, Beaman said. Also planned for next week is the start of laying out the parking lot for the facility, which is expected to cost in the $1.8 million price range. Because of the rain hampering much of the site work, the facility has now gone from a late Fall opening into being open sometime in early January, which could be a blessing in disguise.

“I know Wellness Director Joe Copeland would love to have the Final weigh-in for Shape Up in Faith inside the center,” Beaman said. 

Getting the rain in a short period of time could have been detrimental to the project. Beaman says the construction company is staying quite positive despite the delays.

“From a construction standpoint, we’re really doing okay,” Beaman said. “All the guys have smiles on their faces, so we’re okay. Tangling with Mother Nature is well above my pay grade.”

Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to the facility can contact the hospital or send their donation in care of the FCH Foundation and indicate that they wish it to go toward the Wellness Center.