The architect for Russell County Hospital's board of directors told them at the most recent meeting that the facility is old, bound to cause problems and they should begin replacing the 35-year-old facility.

"The total projected costs range from about $8 million to $16 million," Jeff Koplek told the board during his presentation.

He offered up options ranging from a small single story addition to the East side of the building, to a two story addition designed to house all three of the departments that he said are presently crowded in the hospital.

"We're to the point of obsolescence in the old building right now," Koplek said.

The options, four in all, ranged in size from 23,629 square feet to just under 50,000.

Several on the board expressed interest in the largest of the options. That option is construction of a new two story building beside the existing hospital. It would house three surgical units, endoscopy unit; the complete radiological department as well as all of the laboratory services and a new emergency department with additional bed space for patients that are not admitted, but who are under observation.

The meeting was broken after that presentation in so the board could view the new CT scanner and Fluoroscopy unit.

When they returned Jeff Buckley, with Alliant the hospital's management company, told the board that their search for a new CEO was underway, but asked for an extension of his company's contract in order to proceed with the process.

He told the board that candidates were not comfortable coming to a hospital if they weren't assured that their work there would not be longer than the nine-months that remain in the hospital's contract with Alliant.

The board agreed to have its attorney, Jeff Hoover, draw up a new contract.

George Walz, the hospital's interim CEO asked the board for a date to have a strategic planning meeting, and the concensus was April 24 and 25 would be the best dates.

CFO Ken Kimsal gave the board the news that the hospital would have enough cash on hand to pay of the hospital's original construction bond.

He asked and received the board's permission to do just that.

"It will put us in a better position for financing," Kimsal said.

He added that some of the money the had been paying on the bond would be available to save toward any expansion.

Kimsal said in an interview this week that the hospital still has a $3.2 million dollar note that they continue to pay on.

As to how the hospital performed last month, Kimsal said revenue was 4 percent higher than budget, and performance has been 14 percent better than the previous year.

In February hospital operations netted $80,046, which brought accounting line to $495,712 for the year-to-date.

The hospital's bottom line is $1.2 million for the year-to-date.

"We're in a good position," Kimsal said.