Ceremony marks completion of public health and EMS facility

9 months ago

Carl A. Nelson & Company was construction manager for the $6M, 12,000 SF Lee County, Iowa, project.

FORT MADISON, Iowa — Dozens of employees, local government officials and other supporters gathered Dec. 5, 2025, to commemorate completion of the new Meller Family Health Center, home to the Lee County Health Department and Lee County EMS.

Constructed on land donated by the Meller family, for whom the facility was named, the $6 million, 12,000 SF combined public health and ambulance crew quarters was made possible primarily through federal grants and locally donated funds.

Carl A. Nelson & Company (CANCO), which the Lee County Board of Supervisors engaged early in the project to assist with developing the plan and budget, served as Construction Manager Agent with Design. CANCO engaged SVPA Architects of West Des Moines to provide the architectural design, while CANCO's project managers and field supervisors led the construction phase. Work began with an October 2024 groundbreaking. The facility contains offices and support spaces for Lee County Health Department's providers, a two-bay garage to house ambulances for Lee County EMS, living quarters for on-duty paramedics and EMTs, communications center and decontamination room, and shared meeting and training space. Prior to opening the new facility, both agencies were operating out of temporary facilities that didn't meet the needs of either.

Dan Culp, project executive and vice president of operations in CANCO's Burlington, Iowa, office, is a Lee County and Fort Madison resident who agreed with others who spoke during the ceremony that the project was a long time coming.

"I'm honored to stand here with you in this beautiful new Meller Family Health Center," Culp said. "This is truly an impressive addition to our community."

During his remarks, Culp credited members of the CANCO team who worked on the project, including project managers Ryan Harris who led pre-construction, Matt Shaner who led the construction, and Steven Baridon who is leading project closeout; and on-site Project Superintendent Marcus DePalma. He also credited the work of SVPA's team, and the various prime contractors, subcontractors and suppliers who performed portions of the work. Of the $4.8 million construction cost, $4.7 million — 97% — was contracted to companies within 30 miles of Fort Madison.

Speakers at the ceremony were happy with the finished facility, and the CANCO-led team's efforts.

"To all the project contractors and Carl Nelson, what a beautiful building you built for us," said Michelle Ross, director of Lee County Health.

"We have found that this building meets all those needs that we really hoped it would," said Lee County EMS Director Mark Long. 

Gary Seyb, a member of the Lee County Board of Supervisors who helped to spearhead the project, said it was rare in his experience for a project to be completed on-time, under budget — by about $300,000 — and with the level of safety performance seen on the Meller Family Health Center project.

"My hat's off to CANCO and their team," Seyb said, "and all the subcontractors that put this building together. Truly amazing."

Additional project photos can be viewed in our portfolio.