New structure for housekeeping, maintenance

EPHRATA — A new building is in the works for housekeeping and maintenance staff at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata.

Grant County Hospital District No. 3 commissioners approved construction of the building on the south side of the parking lot.

The building, 40 feet by 80 feet in size, is going to be the hospital's housekeeping, maintenance and laundry facility, said Administrator Don James.

James said construction should be complete within four months.

Staff are excited about the building, which is large enough to house equipment, he said.

"It's been very much needed," James said.

The hospital is funding the building's cost of $219,000 without a bonds sale, James said.

After the building is complete, staff can do laundry at the facility instead of sending it elsewhere.

In addition to the new building, Columbia Basin Hospital is working on other changes to the facility.

An architect is working to design a remodel of the hospital's front entrance, James said.

"We would enclose the front entrance up to the first set of pillars," he said.

Other changes include the addition of a gift shop and an espresso stand, plus a remodel to eliminate front-desk traffic.

Earlier this year, the hospital constructed a CT scanner room and began offering CT scanner service to the public.