The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

The Main Street Clinic project has a lot of activity happening, it's just not visible as you drive by. Construction crews were on target to begin the last phase of construction in the month of July but with the drastic increase and availability of building materials administration and others have revisited the plans and searched for ways to keep the project moving forward and within budget.

According to the Producer Price Index and the National Association of Home Builders, building materials are up 19.2 percent year over year and have risen 35.6 percent since the start of the pandemic. Mike Ensminger, Project Manager, and Dustin Skarphol, President of Skarco Construction, have gone back and looked for ways to improve the efficiency of the building and keep us on budget.

Changes like switching from one large A/C unit for the building that is relatively expensive and has limited availability compared to installing smaller A/C units that are less expensive and changing some of the electrical panels and switches that are larger than what are necessary for the project. Construction crews are striving to locate items that are budget friendly and more readily available. These changes make sense and will be invisible to the appearance and function of the building. Because of Ensminger and Skarphol's work Haxtun Health has been able to arrive at a figure that is in line with our original estimates and can now move the project forward.

The latest contract received is out for a final legal review and then we will be ready to press on. This slight delay was worth the wait. Administration and project leaders are being good stewards with the funds and want to be certain that Haxtun Health builds the best Clinic possible and stay on budget.

Hopefully, community members will see the roof decking be installed in the next couple of weeks followed by some serious construction in the near future. When completed this 10,000 square foot clinic, wellness and retail pharmacy space will be an asset to the community and the patients Haxtun Health serves.