September 26, 2024, Special Meeting Minutes

Posted: November 1, 2024

City of LeRoy MN – Council Meeting Minutes, September 26, 2024

 

A special meeting of the LeRoy City Council was called to order by Mayor Ed Koppen on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 5:00 PM at the LeRoy Community Center with the following members present:  Mayor Ed Koppen, Council Members Ashley Huntley, Harold Shipman, Brian Thiel, Gerald Payne, and City Clerk Patty White.
Also attending: Axel Gumbel, Jason and Amy Bastian.

Koppen read the due call for this special meeting, “The purpose of this special meeting is to discuss potential medical providers for the former Mayo Clinic Health Systems property,” and opened the meeting at 5:00 PM.

Discuss Potential Medical Providers for the former Mayo Clinic Health Systems Property:

  • Koppen noted he had received a telephone call from John Wacha, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Regional Health Services of Howard County (RHSHC). Koppen reported Mr. Wacha told him to contact Robin Schluter, the CEO of RHSHC.  Koppen called Ms. Schluter; Ms. Schluter told him she has been working on paperwork for RHSHC to become a licensed Minnesota provider.  Schluter told Koppen they would intend to bring a primary care clinic to LeRoy, being open five days per week with a pharmacy.  She did note it could take up to six (6) months to get all the paperwork finalized through the Minnesota Department of Health and through the Federal government.  Council noted they had received questions from constituents about Medicare coverage.  Ms. Schluter also noted that if RHSHC were to come to LeRoy, they could then pursue home health care and hospice care.
  • Thiel noted RHSHC could provide a smorgasbord of services. Schluter noted the facility would be fully staffed.  Payne questioned if any conversation has happened where RHSHC would purchase the building.  Koppen noted that conversation has not occurred.
  • Schluter would request of the LeRoy City Council a letter requesting medical services from RHSHC. Thiel updated those present on the Elma, IA, facility.  He also reported Mitchell County Regional Health Service is building a new clinic building in Riceville, IA.
  • Thiel read a proposed letter that could be sent to Mr. Wacha and Ms. Schluter. It was questioned if this letter should be reviewed by the city attorney.  Council did not think that review would be necessary at this point in time.
  • Payne reported he had made some contacts about how leasing could work out if this were to come to fruition. He noted a triple net lease could be used where the facility leases the building from the city; the facility pays the utilities and for minor upkeep and pays a monthly lease amount equal to the amount the city would lose in city taxes plus an amount to receive a return on the city’s investment.  Council noted the main goal is to bring healthcare back to LeRoy; the main goal is not to get rich on this.  Payne noted this is something to think about in the coming months.
  • Motion by Shipman, second by Huntley to approve sending a letter to RHSHC. On a roll call of votes, all members voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

Being no further business to come before this special meeting, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Huntley, second by Shipman at 5:18 PM.

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