Deschutes County Health office to reopen Friday

(Update: Building to reopen Friday; heating-cooling system modified, snow removed from roof)

The Deschutes County Health Services main office building on NE Courtney Drive in Bend, closed since last Friday due to natural gas odors, will reopen to the public this Friday, officials said.

“The Bend fire marshal has let us know the building is safe and ready to re-occupy,” said county Facilities Director Lee Randall.

The Courtney building was closed last Friday after employees reported strong odors.

Over the past week, the county has worked with an air quality testing firm, a mechanical engineer and the Bend Fire Department to evaluate air quality in the building and inspect and evaluate the design of the building’s heating and cooling system.

Based on those evaluations, the county has modified the building’s heating and cooling system and removed snow from the roof.

Facilities staff also is working with a local firm to replace the heating and cooling system. Replacement of the system was scheduled for next year, officials said, but the project timeline has been accelerated.

The building was closed Friday after employees reported strong odors, and following two repairs to natural gas leaks at the facility.

Clients who have appointments at the Health Department’s Courtney location will be contacted to reschedule or with instructions if the appointment was moved to another location. All other Health Services locations were open for regularly scheduled hours.