TONASKET – Since the financial situation at the North Valley Hospital District is improving, it was announced during the NVH board meeting on Thursday, May 12 that meetings between the board and the Okanogan County Commissioners and Treasurer are no longer required on a monthly basis.

“We were notified by Leah McCormick on May 3rd, via e-mail, that since we are meeting the goals of the County Finance Committee, we no longer will be required to meet with them monthly,” Administrator Linda Michel wrote in her report to the board. “We will still send weekly finance reports to them and present before them to give a year-end report.”

During this same meeting, Jan Gonzales, human resources director, said the union and the hospital district came together and voted on the new agreement that had been negotiated on April 19 and 20. She said both groups passed the agreement without any issues and then the board voted to ratify the new agreement.

Finally, the board voted to approve the purchase of a plasma freezer for the lab. Ancillary Services Manager Noreen Olma said a plasma freezer, rather than a normal freezer which the district previously had, would allow for items to be kept frozen at a more constant temperature and it would allow the district to hold fresh frozen plasma on campus, rather than having to send an employee to Mid-Valley Hospital each time fresh frozen plasma is needed.

The next hospital board meeting will be on Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m. in the district boardroom.