Furst Draft

Questions for Dialogues on DMC

Some email questions I'll be packing for Wednesday's P-B Dialogues event at the library, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.:

Hi – my question (if I can’t be at the DMC public meeting) – What specific actions will the city of Rochester and Mayo Clinic take in regards to the transit situation for downtown? I feel strongly that the exhaust from the buses all being cramped together, and so close to MC that the patients and visitors have no choice but to inhale fumes every hour, but where else could we put them? What can they do to improve the transit system right away to lay a path for if/when this truly becomes a destination medical center, while still maintaining a safe and convenient way for our guests to get around Rochester -
Thanks – Tonia Forscher

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I'm unfortunately unable to attend this Wednesday, so I'm taking you up on your offer to submit questions for the panel. While I don't pretend to receive actual honest answers from the panel, I've listed some of the burning questions amongst me and my colleagues.
Why should RAMCA have the power of eminent domain?
How is the State going to make up the difference in tax revenue going forward, or is there an agreement that the operating budget will have to be reduced to accommodate less total revenue?
How important are public schools to the Destination Medical Center? Do they fit into their definition of a "livable city"?
If I don't work at Mayo, and neither does my wife, and I don't stay in a hotel, how will DMC benefit me?
How are you planning to mitigate conflict of interest with current and former employees of Mayo Clinic on the 9-person RAMCA body?  Should Mayo employees on the City/County side be excluded?
With so much emphasis being placed on the city's comprehensive plan in the legislation language, shouldn't we do a full update with public input beforehand? (It hasn't been completely updated since 1979)
- in advance of 585 million in public investment and/or 5 billion in private investment, shouldn't we invest in a completely updated comprehensive plan (most cities update every 10 years) ?


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adam.ferrari

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Jay:

Enjoy your early morning,  brief pieces on TV on KTTC.

Re:  DMC.  I am concerned that the citizens of Rochester are not being heard:  in a positive way.  I contacted the Mayor's office and related to him concern over some of our legislators potentially having a less than positive attitude as it relates to public funding for DMC.  I received a generic E-mail response back saying, at that time, I should travel to St. Paul with the delegation for Rochester Day at the legislature, and nothing more.  My goal of contacting the mayor was to suggest that someone associated with DMC establish a system that would allow Rochester citizens and supporters of DMC to contact identified legislators so as to demonstrate our support for DMC.  It might be in the form of letters or/and e-mails.  Someone might even offer points that might best be included in such communications, without it sounding like a boiler - plate document.

I think the risks are too high to not consider such pro actions that, I would expect, only favorably influence the legislators who might be anti-public funding or on the fence as it relates to the same.

I would hope that you, in your position of authority and influence, might suggest to the appropriate individuals associated with DMC, some format that would allow and encourage citizens of Rochester to take a positive step in rising to this very critical challenge.  I would appreciate any and all of your efforts in this area.

(I recognize that as a member of the media, you are obligated by your professional ethics to report this story in an objective manner, and, hence, only ask that you relay the above step to the key individuals as you are a person of much greater influence than me).

Grants to two Minnesota tribal communities

Not a story that we'll have space for in print, but I frequently get news releases along these lines from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community -- good works made possible by their success at Mystic Lake and elsewhere.

Prior Lake, MN – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announces $1 million grants to two Minnesota tribal nations to continue much needed infrastructure projects previously funded by the SMSC. The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and Upper Sioux Community are the recipients.
 
“We are happy to be able to help tribes improve their facilities so that they can better provide services for their members,” said SMSC Chairman Charlie Vig.
 
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
A $1 million grant to the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa of northern Minnesota will fund a new medical and dental clinic on the Lake Vermilion portion of their reservation. This is the second consecutive year that the SMSC has supported this project with a $1 million grant. The project is going out to bid in April; construction is scheduled to begin in June; with a grand opening planned for September.
 
Bois Forte Chairman Kevin Leecy said, “With the new clinic we will be able to provide lab services on-site; increase hours for our part time medical provider and increase health care services in the clinic from the current three days per week to five days per week. Diabetes education and the WIC clinic will now have room to meet with patients rather than require patients to travel to another location.”
 
Preliminary plans call for a new medical and dental clinic of approximately 10,500 square feet adjacent to the Vermilion Community Center and the existing clinic. Indian Health Services staff are involved in the Planning Committee for the new clinic.
 
The new clinic will substantially increase the size and availability of services by increasing from the current one examining room and one treatment room to four standard rooms and four special treatment rooms.  It will also have a “telemedicine station” where patients and providers can talk face -to-face with medical providers at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Enhanced laboratory services will allow for same day tests where previously they were sent out with results taking several days. Additional spaces will include facilities for an onsite pharmacy, dental services, administrative offices, and an x-ray room.
 
The existing clinic space of 1,200 square feet attached to the Community Center will be converted to offices for tribal government departments. The estimated cost of the project is $4 million, including construction, furniture, fixtures, and equipment. IHS funding will pay for about half of the project.
 
The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa have two tribal parcels of land: Nett Lake, home of the tribal government and where the majority of tribal members live, and the Vermilion Sector, also home to a growing number of tribal members and Fortune Bay Resort Casino, the Band’s largest economic enterprise.
 
Previous SMSC grants to Bois Forte have funded an administration building, a health clinic, a quick lube center and car wash and associated infrastructure improvements at the tribe’s Y-Store near the Vermilion Lake Reservation; the Lake Vermilion Community Wellness Center, a 13,668 square foot facility which contains space for a gymnasium, locker rooms, weight training and exercise area, youth operated canteen, and staff offices; and land purchases.  In November 2005 the SMSC approved a $2,000,000 loan to the Bois Forte Band for acquisition of the Ledge Convenience Store, now renamed the Y-Store, near the Vermilion Lake Reservation.
 
Upper Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has awarded a $1 million grant to the Upper Sioux Community to help with construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. This is the third year the SMSC has supported this initiative with a $1 million grant. The new facility will replace the current “drainfield” type system which is nearing the end of its life cycle. The facility provides services for about 50 homes and four tribal enterprises, including Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort. The same project was funded with a $1 million grant in fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010.
 
“Actual construction on the project began last fall on a $4.7 million wastewater treatment facility with an expected completion in mid-June 2013. Our system is a membrane batch reactor (MBR), modeled after the SMSC wastewater treatment facility. It is designed to treat 100,000 gallons per day, 35% more than our current needs and has capacity for double that amount as future needs dictate. Without the generosity of the SMSC, the Upper Sioux Community would not have been able to build the most state of the art plant to provide for our Tribal needs in an environmentally sensitive manner,”said Upper Sioux Chairman Kevin Jensvold.
 
The Upper Sioux Community near Granite Falls, Minnesota, has an enrollment of 486 tribal members, with a land base of approximately 2,000 acres. Their 1938 reservation boundaries consisted of 734 acres. The Upper Sioux Community and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community have had close social and cultural ties for generations as members of the Oceti Sakowin, the Seven Council Fires of the Great Sioux Nation.
 
In 2001 the SMSC funded Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort with a $21 million loan. In previous years, the SMSC has funded a land purchase and a government center, economic and infrastructure development, including extensive repairs to the wastewater treatment plant, start-up costs for a police department, health benefits, and erosion control. Since 1997 the SMSC has provided the Upper Sioux Community with more than $13.4 million in assistance.
 
About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
   The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, a federally recognized Indian Tribe in Minnesota, is the owner and operator of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, Mazopiya, The Meadows at Mystic Lake, and other enterprises on a reservation south of the Twin Cities. The SMSC utilizes its financial resources from gaming and non-gaming enterprises to pay for the internal infrastructure of the Tribe, including but not limited to roads, water and sewer systems, emergency services, and essential services to its members in education, health, and well-being.
   A tribal charitable giving program which comes from a cultural and social tradition to assist those in need has given away more than $258.2 million to Indian Tribes, charitable organizations, and schools since 1996. Through the Mdewakanton LIFE Program, the SMSC has donated 776 Automated External Defibrillators to tribes, schools, police and fire departments, and other organizations with 21 lives saved due to their use.
   The SMSC has also made more than $523 million in loans mostly to other tribes for economic and infrastructure development projects. Since 1996 the SMSC paid more than $7.6 million for shared local road construction and an additional $16.7 million for road projects on the reservation. The SMSC has also paid $14.4 million to local governments for services and another $6.4 million for other projects. Total construction spending by the SMSC since 1990 is more than $758.7 million.

Reaction to Egan frac sand job was a 'near-lynching'

The word "lynching" is generally reserved for more heinous crimes than the public reaction to the news that Red Wing Mayor Dennis Egan had taken the top job with the Minnesota Industrial Sand Council, the top industry group promoting development of frac sand.

Public reaction was about what you'd expect -- disbelief, anger, maybe betrayal, for some who had voted for him. Egan's decision to quit, or his removal from office, was all but guaranteed from the moment it became news.

The Red Wing Republican Eagle correctly points out that Egan had a lapse of "wisdom and foresight," in an editorial published in its weekend edition. But then the editorial goes down this path, which is just about as tone-deaf as Egan's decision to take the job with the Industrial Sand Council:

"While we wish he’d had the wisdom and foresightnot to become executive director of the new Minnesota Industrial Sand Council, he did, and the resulting debate over holding both posts escalated to the point of a near lynching.

            Well, it’s over ... or is it? The imminent departure of a popular
            public official (remember, he won both a special election and re-election by             substantial margins) should prompt Red Wing citizens to ask themselves some             searching questions.

            • Are we in danger of letting one issue overshadow
            every other matter?

(My opinion: No.)

            • Would Egan have taken such a beating if he’d
            accepted a job with an anti-fracking council?

(Yes.)

            • Did anyone so aghast over the longtime professional
            lobbyist leading the sand council look at
            any of his existing clients before electing him?

(Don't know...did the Republican Eagle?)

            • What does it say about our community that respected
            individuals feared speaking up for a man
            who invited citizen input, fought for a cleaner Mississippi
            River, promoted business and served on a
            mayoral association’s national executive council?

(Possibly that they didn't want to be associated, in this context, with a public official who had put himself in an ethically tough spot.)

            • What type of person, then, do we want in public
            office? Do we want people who have no outside
            interests, no involvement, who will rubber-stamp
            professional bureaucrats’ agendas?

(Of course not. But people are saying they see a terrible conflict of interest in having the city's top elected official being a top advocate for an industry group that's involved in politically charged policy issues.)

Check out the editorial and tell me what you think.

'More dire by the day'

Here's a common issue that comes up with letters to the editor, and my response:

Dear Mr. Furst,
A few weeks ago there was a letter to the editor with a totally unfounded explanation for climate change.   Although you later printed a letter by Marge Hake challenging it, that does not undo the harm of publishing the original.  You should be doing everything possible to get the best scientific facts about what scientists like James Hansen (who has been tracking it for 30 years) say is in store for the planet as the century unfolds.   As you know, these same scientists are shocked to find that their predictions continuing to become more dire by the day.
Sincerely,
Darlene Coffman

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Thanks for this, Darlene -- we can't really get into fact-checking letters to the editor (except for flat-out errors like a name misspelled, etc.)...letters are understood to be opinions, many of them matching up with facts and many not...personally, I think the same can be said of syndicated columnists...the best corrective is always letters from other perspectives.
I'll look at that letter again, though...if there was something ridiculously false on the face of it, we should have sent it back to the writer for addressing.
Thanks again,
Jay

P-B Dialogues next week on DMC

Here's the promo story that will run Saturday. Another question to be asked: How will Mayo's financial performance last year, and Standard & Poor's cautionary report issued Thursday on Mayo's finances, affect DMC's chances in the Legislature?

Destination Medical Center, Mayo Clinic's bold proposal to leverage its investments in Rochester over the next 20 years and remake the city as an international "destination" for medical visitors, was announced last month and is now moving through the Legislature.

What's it all about? How would it be administered? How much tax money would be involved? What are its chances for passage? And is it really, as Rep. Mike Benson has called it, "the most important economic development legislation in Minnesota" of the past century?

On Wednesday, the Post-Bulletin will host an informal public meeting with community leaders to talk about the proposal and get answers to your questions. The Post-Bulletin Dialogues event will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Rochester Public Library auditorium.

Joining Managing Editor Jay Furst in the discussion will be Lisa Clarke, Mayo's administrator in charge of DMC; Dr. Bradley Narr, medical director of the initiative; John Wade, president of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce; and Ed Hruska, Rochester City Council member.

The Mayo officials will outline the initiative, which could have a total estimated impact of $6 billion on the area over the next 20 years, while Wade and Hruska will discuss the public and private development aspects of the plan, which include a Development Authority that would make key decisions on how development occurs.

Post-Bulletin Dialogues is a monthly series of public meetings on important community issues, and as always, most of the 90-minute get-together next week will be a Q & A with the audience. This is your chance to get answers directly from people who are deeply involved in making DMC happen.

If you can't be there and have a question you'd like to be addressed at the meeting, send it to furst@postbulletin.com or go to the Furst Draft blog at PostBulletin.com.

Semifinalists named for RCTC prez

Fresh news release:

Semifinalists for President of
Rochester Community and Technical College Named
Campus visits scheduled for February 27-28
 
 
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 22, 2013 - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) has named two semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of Rochester Community and Technical College. The candidates are Laura Urban and Gary Wheeler.
 
The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and community leaders and chaired by Rassoul Dastmozd, president of Saint Paul College. The candidates are scheduled to visit the campus of Rochester Community and Technical College on February 27 and 28, 2013. The campus visits present an opportunity for faculty, staff, students and members of the community to meet and offer feedback on each of the candidates. Details of the candidates’ campus visits and the process for providing feedback are available at the Rochester Community and Technical College Presidential Search web page.
 
Laura Urban has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Gateway Community and Technical College (KY) since 2010. Previously, she was the chief academic officer and academic dean at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College from 2006-2010; the director of institutional effectiveness and dean of instructional planning at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College from 1997-2006; and the director of the Small Business Development Center and the Outreach Program manager at the University of Wisconsin-Superior from 1990-1997. She has served on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and the University of Maryland-European Division, and as an adjunct instructor for Northland College and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. She served the Directorate of Resource Management, Department of the Army from 1986-1988 and the Army Continuing Education System (ACES) from 1979-1986. Urban holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northland College, a master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Colorado State University, and a doctorate in Education from Capella University. She will visit the campus of Rochester Community and Technical College on Wednesday, February 27.
 
Gary Wheeler has served as the president for Glen Oaks Community College from 2007 to the present. Previously, he was the president of Gogebic Community College from 2005-2007; and in various roles at Miami University Middletown (OH) including senior associate executive director for academic affairs, executive director and director of the Continuing Education, Business and Industry Center, and director of student affairs and athletics between 1988 and 2005. He has served on the faculty of Ferris State University, Miami University (OH), and Prescott College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Art and Art History from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in Art and Art History from Arizona State University, and a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences [Higher Education Administration] from Union Institute & University. Wheeler will visit the campus of Rochester Community and Technical College on Thursday, February 28.
 
The MnSCU Board of Trustees is expected to act on Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation on a final candidate at its March 20 meeting. The new president is expected to begin in July, 2013.
 
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system includes 24 two-year community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving more than 420,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.
 
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S&P revises outlook on Mayo debt to 'negative'

Just moved on business newswires:

 

NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's) Feb. 20, 2013--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services
revised its rating outlook on debt issued by and for the Mayo Clinic, Minn. At
the same time, Standard & Poor's assigned its 'AA' long-term rating to Mayo
Clinic's $300 million series 2013 taxable bonds and affirmed its 'AA'
long-term ratings and 'AA/A-1+' and 'AA/A-1' dual ratings on various debt
issued for, or guaranteed by, the Mayo Clinic.

"We revised the outlook to negative to reflect our opinion of Mayo Clinic's
weaker operating performance, especially in the second half of 2012, and
additional debt with this issue, which we did not expect and did not include
in our last rating analysis," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Martin
Arrick. "In addition, Mayo Clinic had to absorb multiple impacts from a
sharply lower pension discount rate for the second straight year that, in
turn, drove large pension contributions limiting growth in unrestricted cash
and investment and lowering unrestricted net assets while raising pro forma
leverage to levels we consider high for the rating," said Mr. Arrick.

Standard & Poor's affirmed the ratings based on its view of Mayo Clinic's
continued sound debt service coverage, growth in unrestricted reserves, and
solid revenue growth. The rating also reflects Standard & Poor's assessment of
Mayo Clinic's excellent enterprise profile highlighted by its international
reputation, integrated physician-led culture, strength in medical education
and research, all combined with a financial profile, that while strong is only
adequate for the current rating, especially after accounting for this
unexpected debt issue as well as the 2014 planned issuance.

Offsetting these credit strengths is Mayo Clinic's fiscal 2012 performance,
which was not as strong as fiscal 2011. Overall leverage and unrestricted net
assets were hurt by the very large pension charge for the second year in a row
due to a lower discount rate. Nevertheless, net patient service revenues and
revenues overall improved significantly, as did unrestricted reserves despite
a large cash contribution to the pension plan. Volumes improved as well,
reflecting the addition of two medical centers to the system this past year
and general stable performance elsewhere in the system. Case mix remains
exceptionally high. Management has taken steps to curtail the pension funding
levels and other postretirement benefit liabilities but these actions only
partially offset the change in the discount rate. Standard & Poor's expects to
see these liabilities reduced over time and notes the pension plan is 84%
funded. 

Management also reports growth in expenditures that outstripped the growth in
revenues, in part, due to start-up costs of three centers of excellence that
will not produce net improvements in operating income for a few years combined with broader efforts to push centralized systems out to regional affiliates to create longer-term efficiencies despite short-term investments in staff. 

Standard & Poor's included the planned issue in 2014 of approximately $300
million in its rating analysis although operations would have to improve from
2012 levels and balance sheet trends would have to be positive to avoid a
downgrade and return to a stable outlook.

Addendum to my Pine Island City Council story today: The personnel committee consists of Mayor Rod Steele and council member (and mayor pro-tem) Jerry Vettel.
Also, I have the list of salaries of Pine Island city employees, which is interesting in light of the rationale for terminating the administrator's position last month. Not sure what we're going to do with the list at the moment...

'Protocol for City Council meetings and Public Hearings'

This was posted on the wall in the Pine Island City Hall council chambers last night. True text, no editing:

Protocol for City Council meetings and Public Hearings

We appreciate your attending our public meetings and respectfully request you conduct yourself in a civil and productive manner.

Examples; when contributing please state your name, rise or come to the microphone, to state your opinion or business

When speaking please refrain from any personal attacks or name calling, this applies to the public, the council, or any staff or department heads.

While someone else has the floor please show respect and avoid any sidebar conversations, and positive or negative reactions to the speaker's point of view, we value all input and such activity might discourage someone else from speaking.

This Council is here to conduct the cities business, and therefore ask for your cooperation to make our meetings/hearings run smoothly and efficiently.

Repeated warnings or failure to comply with these requests can be means to ask you to leave. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

I'll assume council members expected more fireworks than they got Tuesday. During the public comment period, which comes (in my humble opinion) ridiculously late in the meeting, only a few people tested the limits of this policy, and not really on the issue that you might have expected, the city administrator issue.

There were a few "positive or negative reactions to the speaker's point of view," a few people who applauded "free enterprise" or "no government regulation" comments, which went unadmonished.

But on the whole, it was a tight and orderly meeting.

Not sure if this is true, but one observer noted that the "protocol" flier, which was printed on yellow paper, matches the color scheme of last fall's campaign material for "change" candidates Novak and Diskerud.

Mayo press conference next Wednesday on 2012 financials. Always interesting, and especially in light of recent indications of financial pressures at the clinic and the Destination Medical Center initiative.