Columbia Basin Hospital set for renovation

EPHRATA - Columbia Basin Hospital is going ahead with a project to renovate the facility despite failure of a proposed $10 million bond.

"Obviously we were disappointed that the bond failed but were pleased that there was a great amount of support by residents of the district," says Columbia Basin Hospital Administrator Bob Reeder.

The bond needed a 60 percent approval rating and only managed to receive 58.77 percent of votes during the general election Nov. 2. 

The renewal project aims to renovate the nursing home and replace the south wing, which currently houses inpatients, says Reeder.

"We just couldn't meet that 60 percent approval level," Reeder says.

A property tax increase would have added about $10 to the average tax bill in the hospital district and paid for the bond. The average property value is estimated to be $150,000, according to the hospital.

Project plans include new flooring, new ceilings, new windows, renovating the rooms, expanding the nurses' station and creating a more comfortable area for residents.

Reeder says the board and himself are still committed to the renewal project and the hospital is exploring other funding options. Staff plan to make the necessary changes even if they don't all happen at the same time, says Reeder.

"It may result in doing some phasing of the project rather than doing it all at once," Reeder says. "But we'll do it in the most economical sense possible."

Funding from a 2009 grant will help upgrade the electrical system, which prevents improvements to departments such as physical therapy, which is currently in a 1,000-square-foot area. The hospital could move it to a 3,000-square-foot space, but the change would require updating the electrical system.

"When we decide we need to move forward, we should be seeing some requests for proposals," says Reeder. "Architects have been drawing up plans and we'll send them out for bids."