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Columbia County approves interlocal autopsy agreements with Spokane, Benton counties
Summary
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners on July 14 approved two interlocal agreements to send autopsy work to Spokane County and Benton County; commissioners said the contracts give the county closer and lower-cost options than its prior practice of using Thurston County.
Columbia County commissioners on July 14 approved interlocal agreements with Spokane County and Benton County for autopsy services, voting to authorize contracts that county staff said will offer closer and less expensive options than the county's prior practice of using Thurston County.
The agreements were presented as two separate motions. A meeting participant moved to approve the agreement with Spokane County for medical examiner services; the board called for the question and the motion carried. The board later moved to approve an interlocal agreement with Benton County for autopsy services and again voted to approve the contract.
The county coroner, identified in the record as the coroner for Columbia County, described the logistics of autopsy work and why closer partners matter. “I just attended my first autopsy there, last month, and it just very time consuming for me,” the coroner said, describing overnight travel to Olympia/Tumwater when the county used Thurston County. The coroner said using nearer labs would reduce staff time and travel burden and noted that since the start of the year the office had seen six coroner notifications and two cases that required autopsy.
Commissioners discussed cost differences among the labs and the value of having backup options. One commissioner noted that “Benton County was a little cheaper” and that Thurston County remained available as a “backup backup” because it does not require a contract.
No ordinance or statute was cited during the motions; the approvals were recorded as interlocal agreements between the counties. The motions on the record were procedural approvals of the specific contracts presented to the board rather than legislative changes to county code.
The coroner also described ongoing coordination with Washington State Patrol and the National Medical Service (NMS) to establish where specimens will be sent and to update contact information for mail and records.
The board did not attach contingencies to the approvals on the record; staff will carry out the contract steps laid out in the interlocal agreements and implement the county's choice of exam provider.
The agreements are intended to shorten travel time for staff, reduce the county's operational burden on overnight trips, and provide more proximate options when autopsies are needed.
