The Limestone County Commission is looking for land to build a new health department building.

That was the word from Limestone County Commission Chairman David Seibert Monday, who said the state has approved funding to construct a new health department to replace the building on West Elm Street.

“We’re trying to come up with some land and hopefully we will have something pretty soon,” Seibert said. “We are looking for land that we can swap the existing health department for or we will buy it outright and then sell the health department building to recoup the funds we spend to purchase property.”

Commissioners said the health department moved into the existing headquarters more than 40 years ago. They said the building is too small and would be too costly to renovate.

“We will have to furnish the land and the state will build the new health department building for us,” Seibert said. “We don’t have the land right now, but we are looking.”

In other action Monday, District 3 Commissioner Bill Daws announced that, weather permitting, today Ripley Road from Zehner Road east to Blackburn Road will be closed for repairs.

Commissioners also approved the purchase of five acres, on which the Owens Senior Center will be built, from Geneva Jackson for $50,000. The property is located on the west side of Alabama 99 near Myers Road.

Limestone Revenue Enhancement Director Rodney Jackson said the county was notified Monday by the state that a grant of approximately $233,000 has been approved for the construction of senior center.

Limestone County District 4 Commissioner Bill Daws said total cost of the project would be $283,000. He said the county is purchasing the land, with the remainder of the money for the project coming from a grant from the Community Development Block Grant program.

The senior center will be a 30-by-100-foot structure comprised of 3,000-square-feet of floor space. It will replace the old Pleasant Point Senior Center that was condemned more than a year ago.

Approximately 50 members are expected to use the center once it opens later this year.

Jackson said the county would advertise for bids, which are expected to be opened sometime next month.