City looking to buy $4.5 million building from hospital

Occupants of the Carson City Community Counseling Center are getting set for new digs. A new $12 million Carson City Sheriff's administration building will mean the end for the center's detox unit.

The city-owned building will be demolished to make room for the sheriff's new building on Musser Street. City officials are taking the opportunity to try and consolidate the substance-abuse services with related municipal services.

The private nonprofit counseling center, given space in city buildings for free, offers alcohol- and drug-abuse counseling and rehabilitation programs.

"We provide the space and they provide the services," said Carson City Development Services Director Andy Burnham.

The targeted location for the counseling center's move is Carson-Tahoe Hospital's rehabilitation center on Long Street, which the hospital is planning to vacate once the new regional medical center in North Carson City is complete.

"We knew we weren't going to need that building. What we didn't know is the city would be looking for a new facility," said Carson-Tahoe Hospital Chief Executive Officer Ed Epperson. "It looks like it might be good timing for all parties involved."

A recent appraisal pegged the value of the 26,000-square-foot rehab center at $4.5 million. Carson City Supervisors are scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to enter official negotiations with the hospital.

"We've talked to the hospital in a general way but we haven't really negotiated yet," Burnham said.

The C-TH rehab center's top floor already includes hospital-like rooms where the counseling center's detoxification unit would be located.

Into the building's bottom-floor offices would move the city's health and senior departments including Carson City's health department, health and nursing clinic, welfare operations, compliance officers and possibly other health-related operations.

Construction is scheduled to begin on the new sheriff's building in spring 2006. The new hospital is expected to be finished by the end of 2005.

- Contact reporter Cory McConnell at cmcconnell@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

Be there for the vote

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: 8:30 a.m. Thursday

Where: Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.