>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

The VAoutpatient clinic in La Grande is being built mostly by Union County contractors, including Summit Construction, Ken Wallace Plumbing, All-Phase Electrical and Danforth Construction. - Observer photos/PHIL BULLOCK

It hasn’t been easy. There’s been plenty of stop and go.

“Leave it to me to try and do something like this in the winter,” developer Fred Bell said with a laugh.

Bell said some of the systems, including plumbing, heating, ventilation and cooling, and electrical, are complete or nearly so.

The walls are up, and there’s a covering over the top. But recent, persistent stormy weather has prevented crews from building the roof. That is causing a delay in other areas.

“We can’t do the sheetrock and insulation until we get the roof on,” said Bell.

Earlier this year, the VA announced its plan to establish a community-based outpatient clinic to serve Northeast Oregon veterans. Currently, those enrolled in the VA system travel to the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla for care.

Following a series of meetings and public forums on health care access for veterans in Northeast Oregon, the VA announced it would establish a clinic in La Grande and issued a request for proposals for a building.

Bell proposed building the clinic on land he owns on 12th Street near Gekeler Lane, adjacent to the National Guard armory in the Blue Mountain Conference Center. He would lease the building to the VA.

The agency accepted his proposal. Construction began in late October.

Initially, the clinic will serve about 1,500 vets from the region. Clinic services will include primary health care, mental health, social services, laboratory and pharmacy, but not emergency care.

Local government leaders have touted the project not only because it will provide health care for veterans, but also because it will create an estimated 15 full-time, year-round jobs.

Jake Shaw, a public affairs officer at the Jonathan Wainwright VA hospital in Walla Walla, said immediate plans call for the hiring of eight people, with more to be added later.

“If we get enough patients enrolled, 15 employees is a good long-term estimate,” he said.

He said the VA is already processing some applications, including those for a registered nurse, a head technician, a psychiatrist, a social worker and either a medical doctor or a physician’s assistant.

The new clinic likely will stimulate other improvements in the neighborhood and put more people to work.

On the drawing board is the 12th Street improvement project, a joint City of La Grande and Union County effort that would result in reconstruction of 12th Street between Gekeler Lane and G Avenue.

Robbie Moore of Summit Construction roughs in door openings Tuesday at the VA outpatient clinic being constructed on 12th Street and Gekeler Lane. - Observer photos/PHIL BULLOCK

Norm Paullus of La Grande Public Works said he’s looking for the street improvement project to be complete this year.

“We hope to have a bid award by June. Then we’ll get started,” he said.

Bell said the clinic is being built mostly by Union County contractors, including Summit Construction, Ken Wallace Plumbing, All-Phase Electrical and Danforth Construction. About 40 workers have taken part in the project to date.

Outside companies were hired to do the HVAC and electrical engineering, either because of specialized federal requirements or a lack of local availability of services.

Presently, materials for the roof are on hand. All the workers need is a break in the weather.

That will come, sooner or later. Bell can’t be sure of an opening date but hopes the clinic will be ready for business in April.

“I wish the weather was better, but we’re progressing and we’ll get the project completed,” he said.