New VA clinic coming to Indian River

INDIAN RIVER — In order to accommodate more veterans and expand its services, the Department of Veterans Affairs has made the decision to build its new clinic in Indian River, right off I-75.

The lease for the new Cheboygan County Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) award was first announced on Sept. 29. The new facility will be around 20 minutes south of the current clinic in Mackinaw City.

“We discovered there was a need to shift the CBOC’s current location slightly south to allow us to utilize the 30 to 60-minute drive time windows more efficiently for our local veterans,” said Chris Cauley, medical center director. “The new location also allows for additional exam rooms and space for telehealth, women’s health, primary care procedure rooms, a patient lift assist as well as room for potential future expansions, if necessary.”

The new facility will be constructed at 5739 Hwy M-68, in Indian River, near the Hometown Inn hotel on Brudy Road. It will be around 12,661 square feet in size, which is around 44% larger than the clinic currently in use in Mackinaw City. It is expected that around 35 people will be employed at this clinic.

Tuscarora Township Supervisor Mike Ridley said the floor plans for the new facility have not been released yet, but the size of the clinic and a tentative timeline for the groundbreaking has been.

"It's just really a transfer of the Mackinaw clinic," said Ridley.

The facility in Mackinaw City had outgrown its footprint and is not able to serve as many veterans as would like to be seen at the clinic.

It is estimated the new building will be open and accepting appointments for veterans in about 16 months. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be planned and announced when there is more information to share through the VA.

The developer, who has been planning on constructing the new clinic in Cheboygan County, has been watching the Indian River area for some time and with the direct access to the interstate, decided it was a good location for the clinic. With this new location, veterans from different areas will be able to utilize the new clinic, rather than having to drive to the northern part of the county.

The Tuscarora Township Board of Trustees said they were excited to be welcoming the new VA clinic to Indian River. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 26, the Tuscarora Township Board unanimously passed a resolution to authorize the new clinic being built on the property near the intersection of I-75's exit 301 and M-38. This resolution was required by deed restrictions on the property, which required the township's approval in order for any sort of construction to take place.

"I am proud to have quietly worked on this project to assist the developer — Alpena MARC of Alpena, Michigan — this year. Our township board has also been very supportive," said Tuscarora Township Trustee Bob Kramer, a retired United States Army Lt. Colonel. "We are one step closer to having this incredible facility that supports our warriors and their families, past and present, in our community and Cheboygan County."

Kramer said as a veteran, and his wife Nancy having lost her first husband to Army service, they are very proud and happy that Indian River was chosen to serve veterans and their families. The developer is very oriented toward helping veterans and Kramer feels this will be a big positive for the Indian River community.

"Jeff Konczak, president of Alpena MARC is a brilliant entrepreneur who supports his community. He’s very dedicated to veterans throughout Northern Michigan,” said Kramer.

Konczak has built and leased multiple VA clinics around the State of Michigan, to help veterans have easy access to health care.

Kramer said the central location of the new expanded clinic at the crossroads of I-75 and M-68 location will improve access to veterans and their families and will bring hundreds of visitors to the county due to the new location.

"Any veterans and their families who rely on VA services can now ensure continuity of care while vacationing in our area at such places as Burt Lake State Park and other popular recreational areas nearby," he said. "The new clinic will also ensure that veterans and their families from Emmet County, including Petoskey, Charlevoix, Alanson, Harbor Springs, as well as veterans from Onaway and Wolverine and adjacent communities will have better access to care at the new facility."

Contact Features Writer Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT.