ROCHELLE – The Ogle County Health Department will merge its Rochelle and Oregon office locations beginning June 1, 2026, centralizing all services in Oregon while maintaining all programs and resources for county residents. Officials said the move is intended to improve coordination, staffing stability, and service efficiency, noting that operating two sites created ongoing challenges with coverage. The Oregon location was selected for its central position and proximity to other services, including the DHS office. The department acknowledged potential transportation concerns and pointed to Reagan Mass Transit, which serves the county and plans a new hub at Pines Road and Route 2 along with future fixed routes to improve access.
Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows was not happy with the announcement.
“We had those conversations over the past year. Unfortunately, most recently, the county never reached back out to us to try to put something together. They say they’re gonna combine with Oregon and they’re still gonna have the same services, but unfortunately there’s folks in Rochelle that utilize that facility. Transportation becomes a big problem, and I’m just extremely disappointed,” Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows said.
Officials said the change is supported by the Ogle County Board and will help position the department to expand services and secure grant funding by consolidating staff and resources in one location.
