by ALINE CARAMBAT
MADISON - Construction on the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services’ new 48,500 square-foot addition is on track and set to open in April, according to Executive Director of MDRS Butch McMillan. The $12 million project began late January of last year, however, unfavorable weather conditions created delays in construction.
“The weather has not been too favorable for building with all the rain we had in the first part of the year, but the anticipated completion date is sometime in April or June 1 for the new building,” he said.
According to McMillan, providing an adequate space for MDRS staff has been a struggle since the agency expanded, and this resulted in the agency’s four major federally funded programs to scatter throughout the area – one of which is currently leasing a space in Gluckstadt.
“We are currently leasing a space for 45-50 people in Gluckstadt,” he explained. “We also have a program for assisted technology for those with disabilities and we intend to move that up to this new building also.
“We will no longer need to lease additional office space, which will result in a reduction in expenses and an increase in efficiency. Basically, we’ll be consolidating some programs of the agency which are scattered about in locations that are not as viable as what they will be.”
McMillan said that building a new building directly in front of the existing one has presented some challenges in construction; however, previous plans for renovations on the 40-year-old structure are also underway and include refurbishing the atrium area and the second floor of the structure, along with replacing some bricks and securing the foundation.
The current building, built on top of an abundance of Yazoo Clay, has had damage underneath the building.
Before building the new facility, McMillan said his initial plans of simply renovating the existing one brought the $4 million project to halt due to a lack of funding. He said adding the addition was the new phase for the existing one.
“The first phase was about a $4 million project to renovate the old building or part of it.
“We were going to have a Phase 2 and 3 but were not able to get the financing for all the phases so the new phase is to build the new building in front of the old one, while occupying the existing one.
“With this new addition, MDRS will be better able to serve Mississippians with disabilities and bring our Madison employees all back in one location.”
