Gov't agency getting office renovation

NORWALK — Huron County's Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services is expanding its Norwalk location to accommodate additional staff and programs. The board, which approved up to $50,000 for the work, expects to select a contractor this week for a planned renovation of its Norwalk office, with work targeted for completion by July 1. "We are finishing up walkthroughs today and hope to select a contractor by the end of the week," said Ashley Morrow, community engagement and resource manager for the board, in an email. "Our goal is to have the main project areas completed by July 1." The project at 2 Oak Street will include interior renovations and a reconfiguration of office space. The office will remain open during construction, with services expected to continue, Morrow said. Morrow said the updates are intended to accommodate additional staff and prepare for expanded services at the location. "There are several renovations needed at this time including reconfiguring the office space to accommodate additional board staff and the addition of Connections Recovery Services," Morrow said in the email. "They will be providing Mobile Crisis Services from the 2 Oak Street office starting July 1st, as well as some work in the basement where there has been some water damage in the past." According to its website, Connections Recovery Services is a nonprofit organization that provides mental health and addiction support across several counties, including Huron County. The service was founded in 2024 through a partnership of local mental health boards. The group offers a Mobile Crisis Response Team, which sends specially trained staff into the community to respond to people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The team works to stabilize situations, helping de-escalate incidents and connect individuals with treatment and other services, with the goal of reducing the need for hospitalization or law enforcement involvement. The board previously opened the project to contractors earlier this month and conducted scope-of-work walkthroughs last week.