Kodiak assembly weighs $3.85 million grant to replace failing hospital chiller

A failing chiller at Kodiak's hospital, the one that supports sterilization for emergency, surgical and obstetric care, is running at about 35 percent capacity, and borough documents say it is limiting "the care that can be provided on the island." The borough assembly votes Wednesday on replacing it.

The nearly $4 million project would be almost entirely covered by the state, through a rural health program, with the borough learning Sept. 4 that it had been picked for an award. The borough owns the hospital and applied alongside its operator, Providence.

The money comes from the $272 million Alaska received in the first year of the program, and federal rules bar it from new construction or expansions, only fixes to what exists.

The borough already put up about $67,000 in January to reimburse Providence for design work, and the two have met to map out a timeline if the funding came through.