Councilors express frustration over non-budget talk
The Northfield City Council met for a work session last night. They received budget reports from several different City departments. Councilor Ludescher expressed frustration with Staff that the conversation was more on achievements and initiatives than anything about the actual budget. Acting Mayor Pro Tem Zweifel added that council wanted to discuss items but they were talked at and didn’t have the time. She said City Administrator Haggenmiller sensed the frustration and suggested another work session. She added that the new Granicus software applications for council agendas did not have the powerpoint presentations loaded, therefore the first time they were seeing them was at the meeting. (I would add that that’s frustrating for those watching as well). The meeting and Erica’s interview are archived online at kymnradio.net.
Melchert-Dinkel still guilty
The Minnesota Supreme Court found in the case of the former Faribault nurse convicted of assisting suicide that the words “encourage” and “aid” suicide were covered under the First Amendment, however, they remanded the case of Melchert-Dinkel BACK to Rice County district court. They had taken out the words “aid” and “encourage” but left “assisted”. Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster said that Judge Neuville then applied the finding of assisting suicide to the case and found Melchert-Dinkel STILL guilty. Beaumaster says Melchert-Dinkel could appeal but the constitutionality would likely stand. He will be re-sentenced in mid-October. The original sentence was for 365 days in jail to be applied over 10 years. The suicides took place in 2005 and 2008. Beaumaster says what needs to be remembered is the sufferings of the families. This is a precedent setting case.
Nfld Hosp & Clinics expands
Northfield Hospital and Clinics has been planning how to expand their campus without breaking the bank. President and CEO Steve Underdahl said there are 3 projects. A new MRI and a 9,000 square foot expansion to their surgery area. The third is remodeling in their clinic that will add more exam rooms. The MRI technology has really grown exponentially over the last decade. They’ll swap out where the current MRI is but the room must be reconfigured. He said what people don’t understand is how extremely powerful the magnets are. That energy needs to be contained. Underdahl says there’s a fair amount of engineering involved in setting it up. The new MRI should be complete this Fall.
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The post Today’s news update – Councilors express frustration over non-budget talk; Melchert-Dinkel still guilty; Nfld Hosp & Clinics expands appeared first on KYMN Radio - Northfield, MN.