Furst Draft

'We deserve big, and it is do-able'

Gary Smith, the RAEDI executive director, said today at the RAEDI annual meeting that it's "sometimes hard to tell us apart" from the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, which is something to be explored, another time. Then he joked that between him and Chamber president John Wade, "I'm the one with the hair." Including some new chin spinach. "And he'd say he's the thin one."

+++++

David Oeth, the incoming board chairman, had some farewell words for the outgoing chairwoman Melissa Brinkman and referred to her pool-shooting skills recently in Iowa, of all places. I need to call Melissa and get the rest of the story.

+++++

Lisa Clarke, the Mayo DMC administrator, repeated her presentation from last night's Dialogues session. About the Dialogues event, she said, "We had a very, very hearty discussion ... good banter, good give-and-take, very open and transparent." She repeated the word "hearty" later.

More from Clarke: "Often you hear, 'that's big,'" in reference to the $6 billion scale of the project, the $585 million in state tax money for infrastructure, etc. She said, "I don't apologize for that. We deserve big, and it is do-able."

The proposal "is unique, and it's not, all at the same time." Meaning the way in which tax money would be directed to Rochester only after it's generated by Mayo and private development, and "only" about 10 percent of the total tax revenue generated, according to Mayo. That's the unique part. The un-unique part is the development authority, the economic development corporation and the way in the process would be administered. That's modeled after other state authorities, she said.

Regarding the $585 million in tax revenue for Rochester area infrastructure, Clarke said there is "not hidden meaning" in the term "infrastructure." "It's sewer pipes, skyways," etc., she said, but she did include the magic word "intermodal transportation." Could that be Zip Rail?

Her clincher: "Rochester deserves this, it's very exciting, we're poised to do this, it's very do-able."

 

PUC reopens New Era wind project

News release from PUC regarding New Era wind project in Goodhue County:

MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
RE-OPENS THE GOODHUE WIND PROJECT
IN LIGHT OF CHANGES
St. Paul, Minnesota - The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) today decided to re-examine the Goodhue Wind project given the changes in the ownership structure, financing, date of service, and operating elements of the project. The Commission determined that there are sufficient questions to re-open the matter to consider additional evidence and legal arguments. There will be further proceedings at the Commission to consider the legal issues or whether to refer the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings for fact-finding hearings.
The Commission issued a Certificate of Need and granted a Site Permit for the project by Orders dated August 23, 2011, with an in-service date of December 31, 2011.
The current project owner, New Era (formerly AWA Goodhue), had requested a delay in the in-service date. New Era and Xcel Energy, the power purchaser, are currently re-negotiating the project milestones, including the in-service date.
There are also questions surrounding the ownership structure of the project. In 2012 the Commission became aware of possible ownership changes in the project. By means of responses to Information Requests of the Commission, by mid-December of 2012, the responding parties had confirmed changes in the project developer and the sale of Limited Liability Company (LLC) membership interests in AWA Goodhue.
One of the key questions is whether the project qualifies for designation as a Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) project. A C-BED project is, under Minnesota law, one intended to “optimize local, regional, and state benefits from renewable energy development, and to facilitate widespread development of community-based renewable energy projects throughout Minnesota.”
The Commission also considered whether it should approve the Avian and Bat Protection Plan (ABPP) submitted by the developer. Among several conditions contained in the Site Permit is a requirement that the developer prepare an ABPP in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Commission must approve an
ABPP before construction may begin on the project. The Commission tabled consideration of this issue until the developer has addressed numerous public comments on the ABPP filed with the Commission.
The Goodhue Wind project is a proposal to build a 78-megawatt wind facility in Goodhue County. The project would be located just west of the city of Goodhue.
A final written Order formally documenting today’s Commission decisions will be issued within a few weeks. The Order will be filed in the appropriate Dockets: Docket Numbers IP6701/CN-09-1186, E002/M-09-1349, E002/M-09-1350, and IP6701/WS-08-1233. These Dockets are accessible at the Commission’s website via the Commission’s e-Dockets system.
-30-

Links for AMBER alerts and more

Good information here on mobile alerts:

Information about the City of Rochester & Olmsted County Emergency Notification System:  About Rochester Alert, or read FAQs
Not yet subscribed? Sign up here: https://users.alerts.rochestermn.gov/
 
Information about Minnesota AMBER Alerts and how people can sign up to receive them directly: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/Pages/amber-alert-about.aspx
 
City of Rochester, including Olmsted and Wabasha Counties, was granted permission to use the Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS), and can send messages to eligible smartphones.  More information will come out in March.
Background on the IPAWS and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system:
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/emergency-response/Pages/emergency-alert-system.aspx
 
You may also be interested in receiving information from the following websites:
Rochester Alert Twitter:                                                                                 http://twitter.com/RochesterAlert
 
Olmsted County Emergency Management Facebook:                     https://www.facebook.com/OCSheriffsOffice
Olmsted County Emergency Management Website:                           http://www.co.olmsted.mn.us/sheriff/divisions/EOC/Pages/default.aspx
Crime Stoppers Website:                                                                               http://www.rochesterolmstedcrimestoppers.org/
 
City of Rochester Emergency Mgmt. Website:                                     http://www.rochestermn.gov/departments/emergencymanagement/index.asp
Rochester Emergency Management RSS feed:                                    http://rss.alerts.rochestermn.gov/RSS/Feeds/RochesterEmergencyManagementDivisionRSS.xml                         
Olmsted County RSS feed:                                                                            http://rss.alerts.rochestermn.gov/RSS/Feeds/OlmstedRSS.xml
 
 
When there is a community emergency you need to be prepared and have the ability to receive emergency notifications.
Take time today to sign up!
Thank you
 
Sincerely,
Ken Jones
 
Enroll in Rochester Alert:  Emergency Alerts - how you want them...when you need them - alerts.rochestermn.gov/enroll

Eight questions after the Dialogues on DMC

We had a huge crowd for the P-B Dialogues event last night at the Rochester Public Library. It was hard to know how many people might turn out; I wouldn't have been surprised if it'd been the more typical 75-100 people. Instead, it was standing-room-only, with dozens more in the hallway outside.

As I mentioned at the meeting, we'll do this again in March, in a larger venue -- could be at the Hill Theatre at RCTC -- and hopefully with key legislators, not only from Rochester. It's on my list for today, aiming for a date in late March.

There's another community meeting on DMC at the library on March 20, presented by the Rochester Issues Forum. That one is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Based on my notes from last night, here are eight questions about DMC that we need to explore with news stories -- and that DMC advocates need to respond to effectively:

How quickly would we see a DMC-related building under construction downtown? If DMC makes it through the Legislature and the governor signs the bill in May, would the authority be up and running by fall? Would Mayo get to work on one of its major investments within a year or two, generating tax revenue for DMC spending within five years?

Mayo's Lisa Clarke said she thinks that would happen sooner than five years.

This is a big point that needs a more precise answer from DMC: How quickly would we be "transformed?" When would we see a new building going up on one of those vacant lots south of downtown, when would schools begin to see the impact of thousands of new jobs being filled in the area, etc.

What powers of eminent domain will the development authority have? We need to do a full story on this and how the process would work.

How would conflicts of interest affect the authority's balance of voting power? This topic came up in passing, but if authority members have to recuse themselves from voting -- or if city council members have to recuse themselves from council votes -- it could get interesting.

What did Phil Wheeler know and when did he know it? The Rochester/Olmsted planning director's name was invoked more than once, as to whether he and the planning department were aware of the vast scope of DMC in advance. DMC Administrator Lisa Clarke and Chamber President John Wade indicated that the planning department was aware, if not exactly involved. I'll find out.

How would area towns be affected? Dr. Bradley Narr made the point that, just as all Mayo's current employees don't live in the city, many of the 35,000-40,000 new employees who would be drawn to jobs generated by DMC would live in area towns. Will they be ready?

When did the city council, county board, legislators, the Chamber and other big wigs know the scope of this plan? Talking transparency, this may be the $6 billion question. Clearly, the relatively modest Destination Medical Community concept, which was talked about in vague terms for several years and reaped $20 million in local-option sales tax money in November, morphed into a $6 billion colossus at some point.

When? What public officials knew about it? Why was the process kept so hush-hush?

The P-B, in editorials, columns and news stories, pressed for more answers last year regarding DMC and the sales tax. Turns out, we didn't know how little we knew. There were indications that something bigger was going on. Sen. Dave Senjem told our editorial board in September that DMC would be a key priority in the upcoming legislative session. At that point, nothing had been said publicly about DMC as a project for the Legislature to consider.

It's reasonable for people to ask, how long has this been cooking, who was involved, and why wasn't it a more public process, rather than a closely held secret that was sprung in mid-January, in the governor's office?

Several comments last night reflected this concern for transparency going forward.

What will the DMC "community engagement process," which is just getting under way, look like, and will it be substantial or window-dressing?

Again, some would say it's late to be engaging the community in a massive proposal that already has left the station in St. Paul. The faster we can learn about the "engagement" piece of this, the better.

Is Mayo's DMC team ready to answer questions? The jury is out on this one. There are many, many unknowns in DMC and the promoters -- not just Mayo, but council members, business leaders and others -- need to figure out quickly how to best respond to the reasonable questions and concerns that people have.

The clock is running on not only the legislative session, but the special election for Rochester City Council president. If this is a "pivotal moment" for Rochester, DMC ought to be the front-and-center issue in the council election, and the more information we get before March 19, the better.

 

RIP, 'Restless Legs'

News release just now:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation is now the Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation
 
ROCHESTER, Minn., February 28, 2013 – The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation is now the Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation. The Rochester-based patient organization serves healthcare providers, researchers, and an estimated seven million people in the U.S. and Canada who have Willis-Ekbom disease (WED). The Foundation is changing its name to promote respect and ease of use of the name Willis-Ekbom disease in the medical and scientific communities and the public sphere.
 
Georgianna Bell, executive director, said, “This change aligns with a broader process underway worldwide to adopt the term Willis-Ekbom disease.  The ultimate purpose for changing the name is to improve the correct and timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease, because that is not happening right now.”
 
Reasons for the name change
The name Willis-Ekbom disease:
·         Eliminates incorrect descriptors—the condition  often involves parts of the body other than legs
·         Promotes cross-cultural ease of use
·         Responds to trivialization of the disease and humorous treatment in the media
·         Acknowledges the first known description by Sir Thomas Willis in 1672 and the first detailed clinical description by Dr. Karl Axel Ekbom in 1945.
 
About Willis-Ekbom disease
Willis-Ekbom disease is a chronic neurologic disorder that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs or other body parts, often accompanied by unusual or unpleasant sensations. These sensations tend to get worse when individuals are at rest—for example, when going to sleep at night or sitting for long periods of time. Because symptoms usually intensify in the evening, they can severely disrupt sleep and reduce quality of life.
 
An estimated 7­–10 percent of adults worldwide have the disease, which often runs in families. Although many people have a mild form, millions are seriously impacted. Several genes have been identified with an increased risk for developing the disease. Other factors under study include iron metabolism and neurotransmitter dysfunctions involving dopamine and glutamate.
 
There is currently no cure for WED. Mild symptoms can often be successfully managed with lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and better sleep hygiene. In moderate and more severe cases, prescription medications can offer some relief of symptoms, and several drugs are FDA approved for treating the disease.
For more information, visit www.willis-ekbom.org.
 
###
 
About the WED Foundation
The Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of men, women and children who live with WED by increasing awareness, improving treatments and through research, finding a cure. The Foundation serves healthcare providers, researchers, over 4,000 members and an estimated seven million individuals in the U.S. and Canada who have the disease. The Foundation’s Research Grant Program has awarded over $1.4 million to medical research on causes and treatments. For more information, visit www.willis-ekbom.org.
 
CONTACT:
Georgianna Bell
Executive Director
Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation

 

Why can't KAAL speak the words "Post-Bulletin"?

KAAL-TV did a story on our Dialogues meeting Wednesday night without speaking the words "Post-Bulletin," which means of course that viewers had no clue who presented it and why. Judging by the story, the public meeting just fell out of the sky, or was perhaps organized by Mayo,the Chamber or the library. You'd think that's important information. But you won't find out from KAAL.

This isn't the first time KAAL has covered a P-B Dialogues meeting without informing viewers who presents it and why, which I personally think is hilarious (because they need to avoid any video reference to the P-B as well), but it's weird reporting.

 

 

 

 

 

Another bizarre Twin Cities column about DMC

Last month, the editor of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal took a few funny but cheap shots at Mayo's Destination Medical Center proposal, saying it's all about turning Rochester into a real city, with decent Chinese food and pillow mints in hotels.

This month, editor Dale Kurschner of Twin Cities Business magazine has an even more ridiculous column on the plan, but like the Business Journal, it's revealing about the challenges Mayo faces at the Capitol.

The headline, for about the billionth time in print: "Hold the Mayo."

After spending about half the column talking about his own personal experience with Regions Hospital in St. Paul and North Memorial in Minneapolis, Kurschner notes that both had fewer "adverse health events" per surgical procedure than Mayo's Saint Marys Hospital in the latest annual report. Then this:

Given this, wouldn't it be just as fair for the state to provide financial support to North Memorial Health Care and Regions (along with its HealthPartners parent organization), as it is now considering for the Mayo Clinic?

What?

Kurschner goes on to note, in an absurd way:

"Granted, Mayo is Minnesota's largest private employer (33,599 jobs) and is a world leader in health care research and services."

Well, yes, in fact, that's true -- and not exactly incidental.

He also says Mayo's "presence is more than just appreciated for its contribution to our state's economy," which is good to know. "However, this is not the Mayo of yesteryear."

Why? Because it dares to compete, apparently.

"Decades ago, it was primarily a research institution. Today, Mayo owns hospitals, has partnerships with other hospitals, and is considered a competitive threat by providers throughout the state. And it isn't the only industry jewel in our health care crown: HealthPartners is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation."

That apparently gets to the point. Mayo's getting too big and competitive, and DMC, which Mayo officials say is aimed at national and international patients, would give the clinic an unfair advantage.

Kurschner says "the idea of supporting additional growth in the health care sector is worth considered," but suggests that might include creating special tax districts for "all Minnesota health care providers that have proven they, too, are among the best in the nation."

Either way, state leaders need to remember that while Mayo is the largest and most visible provider, Minnesota taxpayers are more often cared for by other organizations doing just as well, if not better, at providing services and employing highly talented workforces in their communities.

Valid points, and everyone should be asking tough questions about how DMC would work and whether it's worth it. That's what we'll do tonight at the P-B Dialogues, 6:30 p.m. at the Rochester Public Library. But most people would say it's absurd -- and just as parochial as Rochester is accused of being -- to compare Mayo to "other organizations doing just as well, if not better."

FYI, the column's wrong about Mayo planning to spend $5.5 billion over the next 20 years. Mayo says it'll spent about $3.5 billion, leveraging about $2.2 billion (supposedly) in private development, plus the half-billion in public infrastructure spending.

 

 

Anti-bullying legislation gets House committee hearing

Here's a news release from Outfront, the GLBT organization. The release cites the Minesota Safe Schools for All Coalition, though the most recent blog post or web information I can find on that group dates from 2009.

 

SAFE & SUPPORTIVE MINNESOTA SCHOOLS BILL INTRODUCED

HOUSE HEARING TO BE HELD THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28

 

St. Paul, February 25, 2013 – A comprehensive anti-bullying bill, called the Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act (House File 826), was introduced in the State Legislature last week. The House Education Committee will hold a hearing this Thursday at 10:00 am in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.

Currently, Minnesota has one of the weakest anti-bullying laws in the country – just 37 words.  If passed, the Safe & Supportive Schools Act would provide our state with one of the most effective. The bill would repeal the current law and replace it with new, comprehensive legislation, which would require all Minnesota school districts to adopt policies to protect all students and provide adequate support for teachers and other adults to effectively implement policies to keep students safe.

“Providing strong and comprehensive anti-bullying legislation is a key to improving our schools and making sure that our children have the support that they need to succeed academically and socially,” said House bill author Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis).  “The Safe and Supportive Schools framework will let kids spend more time learning and less time worrying about bullying that could occur before or after school.  When the bell rings, kids should be rest-assured that they can leave the classroom safely and continue on with their day.”

Senate bill author Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) states: “This proposal reflects the findings of the Governor's task force, which heard from education professionals, experts, parents, members of the public, and most importantly, young people themselves. They heard loud and clear that we can create a future where every child who goes to school knows that they are valued, that they are safe, and that they have an equal opportunity in life."


The Safe Schools for All Coalition is a group of over 80 education, disability, youth, religious, LGBT and social service organizations, as well as individuals. The Coalition supports the passage of comprehensive legislation that requires all Minnesota school districts to adopt policies to protect all students and provide adequate support for teachers to effectively implement policies to keep students safe.

###



--
Jean Heyer
Communications Director
612-822-0127 x7664 / 612-701-3874 (cell)
jheyer@outfront.org / www.outfront.org 

Red Wing paper doubles-down on Egan defense

In case you missed the Red Wing Republican Eagle's provocative defense of soon-to-be-former Mayor Dennis Egan, in which they described Egan's rapid fall as a "near-lynching," the former publishers of the twice-weekly paper have an even more provocative column in today's edition.

Here's the headline, lead and excerpts:

Fear-mongering rules the day in Red Wing
By Arlin and Marilyn Albrecht
Former Republican Eagle publishers

  The resignation of Mayor Dennis Egan is not about sand mining as much as it is about the disintegration of city politics into a mindless morass of mud-slinging and misinformation.

  We have been close observers of local government for some 50 years and, generally, great admirers of it for being a wonderful custodian of the city's best interests. In all that time, we can't recall a previous incident when fear-mongering, demagoguery and character assassination have reached such a crescendo...

  Egan was tarred and feathered with fury on the assumption - purely unproven - that he had signed up to make Barn Bluff disappear into an endless convoy of dump trucks...

 
  Egan was run out of office not because he had actually done anything to promote mining locally. He was run out on the basis of guilt by association.

  The vicious technique was promulgated by the late Joseph McCarthy, a Wisconsin U.S. senator, near the middle of the last century. It's disheartening to see it return in the Red Wing council chamber...

  To be sure also, the council could have had the backbone to stare down the lynch mob and do something other than to declare its own incompetenceIat conducting an internal examination of the situation.

So, again, the lynching metaphor -- a "lynch mob" got Egan. Way inappropriate, in my book, whether you agree that Egan was treated fairly or not.

In the end, even the "former publishers" acknowledge he put himself and the city in a tough spot by taking the top job with a mining industry trade group, at a time when Red Wing and Goodhue County residents are deeply concerned about frac sand mining.

So, why the extraordinary defense and the comparisons to "lynching"?

Fair comment regarding Punchline jokes

Here's an interesting note from a reader:

> Dear Jay,
> This is really minor, but I think worth mentioning.  I asked my husband if he had read the Joke of the Day in yesterday's paper (2/21).  It is about the woman who was a juror.  I thought it was funny, but my husband didn't.  He wondered if people would find it as funny if the roles were reversed in the joke and if it was the husband who had made the comment.  He finds that most jokes are at the expense of men, but I haven't kept a tally to know.
>
> Anyway, maybe something to keep in mind.  Are the jokes still funny if the roles are reversed?  thanks for listenig.  Lauri
>

Here's the joke, which wasn't appropriate for the paper regardless of the gender issue:

A prospective juror was surprised by the definition of voluntary manslaughter given to the panel: "An intentional killing that occurs while the defendant is under the immediate influence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause, such as when a spouse's mate is found in a 'compromising position.'"

"See, I have a problem with that passion business," responded the jury candidate. "During my first marriage, I discovered that my husband was having an affair with my neighbor. All I did was divorce him. I had no idea I could have shot him."