Leaders at Whidbey General Hospital are looking for someone to coordinate construction of a new wing.

Officials winnowed through applications for the construction project manager who will oversee the project, which is financed through the recently-approved $50 million bond.

“It’s really important that we get through this process as quick as we can,” Whidbey General Hospital board member Ron Wallin said during the Dec. 9 board meeting.

Hospital Public Relations Liaison Keith Mack said in an email that the candidate, which could either be a company or an individual, should have experience managing large-scale healthcare construction and they will manage the hospital’s interests throughout the project.

He said he doesn’t have any salary information for the position. That amount would depend on the qualifications of the person hired and the scope of the contract.

The deadline for applications was Dec. 16 and hospital leaders are scheduled to interview qualified candidates in late December or early January.

Once the project manager is hired, that person will start developing a request for proposals that will be sent out to construction companies. A timeline for the project will also be developed.

Hospital leaders presented a $50 million bond proposal that voters ultimately approved in November. Money raised from the bonds will pay for construction of a new wing on the south side of the hospital’s Coupeville campus that will contain single-person rooms. A new parking lot will have to be installed and the current patient space will be converted to additional clinic space.

Mack also pointed out the various ways staff will update the community about the construction project. A Facebook page has been set up and the hospital’s website, www.whidbeygen.org will have regular updates  that will provide a way to email questions and comments. Every Pulse magazine, which is mailed to residents, will also contain updates.