Scope of work being prepared

EPHRATA — Grant County officials are preparing a scope of work for the design process for a new Grant County Jail, and county commissioners are considering adding the cost of a new morgue, which would be built as part of the new Samaritan Hospital, to the project. During a Monday discussion, commissioner Richard Stevens said commissioners should think about funding a new morgue through money raised through a three-tenths of one percent law and justice tax approved by Grant County voters in 2019.

Director of Central Services Tom Gaines told commissioners Tuesday that he’s working on the first steps of a design process. “I’ll put together a scope of what our expectations are of the architect,” Gaines said.

“And, if we go out for bond, we’re probably going to do a new coroner’s office,” Commissioner Cindy Carter said. The question of a new morgue, and attached coroner’s office, came up during a discussion between the commissioners and Grant County Coroner Craig Morrision.

Stevens said Monday that in his opinion commissioners had to consider any and all funding sources, incluing the law and justice tax. “I think that’s something we have to look at,” he said. “If there are funds available there, we need to look at that. The coroner is out there working with law and justice too.”

Carter experessed some concerns about using that money during the Monday discussion. “I don’t know — that’s a stretch,” Carter said. “We told the people it was going to go for a new jail, and I think that’s what we need to stick to.”

“No, we did not,” commissioner Tom Taylor said. “We said a jail would be part of it. It also will go to courts, for deputies on the street.”

“It’s not all just for the jail,” Stevens said.

The current morgue is in Samaritan Hospital. Groundbreaking on a new hospital is scheduled for this summer. In January, county officials discovered that plans for the new hospital did not include a morgue.

Commissioners verbally agreed to pay $34,560 to Samaritan and its architect to work on a morgue design. They are expected to approve the actual expenditure next week.

Morrison presented commissioners with two options for a morgue at Samaritan, one of 3,300 square feet, the second at 4,500 square feet. Currently, the coroner’s office is located on Ivy Street, and it would stay there in the first option. The second option would make the coroner’s office part of the morgue.

Stevens asked if hospital officials had provided a cost estimate.

“They’re just throwing $2.5 million out for starters,” Morrison said.

County officials also have the option of a standalone facility, Morrison said.

Taylor said if costs are similar, he would prefer to work with Samaritan. The hospital already has equipment and certification necessary for some morgue functions. “I think the hospital makes more sense.”

“I agree with you,” Morrison said. “And I think it’ll cost more for the standalone.” A standalone morgue would require separate equipment and certifications now shared with Samaritan, he said.

“Do you feel comfortable that those are services they’ll continue to provide for us?” Taylor asked.

“We’ve been told that,” Morrison said.

Morrison said the current concern about infectious disease, highlighted by the coronavirus, does mean the current facility may be too small.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].