TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- Grand Traverse County leaders are hoping to finalize plans for a new health department building by the end of the month.

Financing for the project will be voted on by commissioners on November 30.

Department director Fred Keeslar said he has seen a huge increase in clients seeking health and dental services over the past 18 years.  

"Less than 200 children on Medicaid were receiving dental care when we started. Now, last year, we served 6,000 individuals in Medicaid and we've more than doubled the number of families in our WIC program," Keeslar said.

If approved, the new health department building will be built on LaFranier Road. Groundbreaking could take place in December.