The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – The Columbia County Health System board of directors decided last week to hire an outside firm to help them determine how best to spend the $5.5 million bond approved by voters in November.

The hospital district will contract with Stroudwater Associates, a national firm whose consultants design solutions for healthcare, according to Interim CEO Jon Smiley.

“They will evaluate our need and provide us with recommendations,” Smiley said.

The assessment conducted by Stroudwater will cost the district approximately $60,000, Smiley said, and he will meet with them next week to de...