Hospital to fund the last phase of electrical project

POMEROY–The Garfield County Hospital District board of commissioners decided to fund phase two of the electrical project and heard a cost report presentation at their meeting on May 6.

The commissioners approved spending $278,500 to finish the electrical project, including funding all of phase two. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024, although some equipment is not expected to ship until August. The amount is equivalent of nine days' worth of operating expenses, leaving the hospital with 142 days' cash on hand. Stephanie Miller, Garfield County Memorial Hospital's chief financial officer, supported the decision, stating "the electrical project holds up everything else." Every other project the hospital is working on depends on the completion of the new electrical system.

The commissioners heard a cost report from DZA, including an independent audit. The report showed very little changes from 2023, the two main changes being an accounting principle for software and the fact that the HUGS auxiliary group is no longer included in the audit, due to it currently being under Blue Mountain Community Foundation's supervision.