Northfield Hospital and Clinics is planning another expansion, this time to their clinic space and birthing center. CEO Steve Underdahl and CFO Jerry Ehn presented to the Northfield Council on Tuesday. They explained the growth of the OB department in particular. City Administrator Ben Martig said that right now they have about 550 births per year, with a two level expansion, they could accommodate 750 births. The build out
would be an extension of the current birthing center and would allow for a surgical space if necessary for c-sections. The Clinic expansion would be directly north of the existing clinic space. It’s a $13 million project. The Hospital Board will be discussing, and likely taking action, next week. As a City-owned hospital, it will then go before the Northfield Council for approval. If all is approved, they’re looking at beginning construction in the Spring. They intend on using cash reserves, so there would be no debt. Underdahl told Council that prospective parents are “shopping around” for the place they want to give birth. They are seeing patients from the surrounding area but also further out. As for the clinic, he said they’re running out of space for physicians and programs. Underdahl mentioned that technology is changing the medical industry in that millenials would much rather talk with a doctor via a device, and that “device”, would not include the telephone! They want to, “be able to interact in different ways and I think it is very likely that within 5 years, there will be a lot of ways that people will interact with their providers that don’t require them to come and sit in front of them in an exam room”. This will come back to council in December. 1 – Birth Center and Clinic Project City Council November 2018
Driver deliberately tries to hit another car
A Faribault man, determined to make contact with another vehicle, was arrested on Wednesday. According to the criminal complaint, Rice County Deputies responded to report of a vehicle being chased by another. A Deputy caught up with a silver sedan chasing a white Toyota at the intersection of 6th Ave NW and 4th St NW. Activating his lights for a traffic stop did nothing to stop 19 year old Mohamed-Khadar Dayib Mohamed, who continued driving pulling ahead and swerving to hit the white Toyota. THAT car was able to move out of the way before contact. The Deputy then activated his sirens, but Mohamed kept going. At 2nd Ave NW, he attempted to make a right turn at a high rate of speed and spun out in the intersection. Mohamed was instructed to get out of the vehicle at gunpoint. He was taken into custody, charged with fleeing a peace officer, a felony. His initial court appearance is December 14th. He’s requested an interpreter.
Rice Co. Community and Justice Council
The Northfield Council was asked to support the Rice County Community and Justice Council. They’ve been working on it since 2016. Yvette Marthaler, who has worked in the Social Services department for about 25 years, and is named the Coordinator for the Justice Council, spoke before the Northfield Council this month explaining that it’s a way for the decision makers of the varied departments such as law enforcement, judges, social workers and more, to more effectively present their initiatives to the group, hopefully getting support. That information then goes out to the appropriate agencies. She said, for example, Social Services Director Mark Shaw, is working on a new program called “Social Services Interceptor program” which will work with people in the community and law enforcement and try to help people before they get to the point where they’re incarcerated or in jail. They’re asked for a commitment of time from Northfield Police Chief Monte Nelson and/or staff and the Mayor or Representative to attend the quarterly meetings. They approved the resolution to participate in the Community and Justice Council.
