By Rich Larson, News Director
After a fire killed five people in a Minneapolis high rise housing development in 2019, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith co-authored a bill that
would make it easier to install sprinkler systems in older public housing developments and better protect the residents of those buildings.
The Public Housing Fire Safety Act would establish an annual $25 million competitive grant program to provide funds to public housing authorities looking to retrofit sprinkler systems into public housing projects built before they became a new construction requirement in 1992.
Speaking with Jeff Johnson on the KYMN Morning Show yesterday, Senator Smith said there are thousands of apartment buildings across the country that could make use of a program like this.
“The older apartment buildings that were built before there was a requirement to have sprinkler systems are just not up to par. It’s just not acceptable for people to be living in unsafe conditions. And a lot of the folks that live in these apartment buildings are elders and people living with disabilities, so they are at particular risk.”
Last year the bill failed to get a vote on the Senate floor, however the senators have re-introduced the bill and are hoping it can find a home in a larger spending measure. Smith said she has spoken personally with Secretary Marcia Fudge of the Department of Housing and Urban Development urging her to recommend the bill be folded into President Biden’s budget proposal for the coming year. She said there are also several infrastructure bills into which this program could be built.
As is typical in Congress right now, the senator said the bill has yet to find bi-partisan support, but she called it a “bi-partisan idea” and is confident that the program will become law.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Senator Tina Smith can be heard here.
Phase III completes new hospital birth center
The Northfield Hospital has opened the final phase of its brand-new birth center.
The expansion, which was initially approved in December of 2018, adds several amenities that were not available before, including a water birth suite, a new nursery featuring a state-of-the-art baby identification system, and a dedicated C-Section operating room that is in the birth center itself. The labor and delivery rooms have been expanded to offer more room for moms in labor to move around more and now include soaking tubs, baby bath sinks, and large refrigerators. The rooms have also been positioned to offer what the hospital calls “calming nature views.”
Northfield Hospital & Clinics President and CEO Steve Underdahl said the timing is unfortunate due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in that it is not possible for the public to come tour the new birth center in person. However, he said the hospital will still do everything it can to showcase what is happening there.
“People can send in photos of the babies that were born at the birth center, and we’re going to have this Baby Parade, which is basically a slide show, but it will be [on social media] on April 1. But we’re thinking we’re going to have kind of an overdose of cuteness associated with the birth center.”
Last year, 492 babies were born at the Northfield Hospital. The new birth center can accommodate 750 babies every year. For more information, visit northfieldhospital.org/birth-center.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Steve Underdahl can be heard here.
NAFRS board looks to clarify succession plan
And at a meeting last week, the Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Service board decided to put an official plan of succession together for when the time
comes to find the next fire chief.
NAFRS Chief Gerry Franek said he has no immediate plans to retire, but it is a good idea to codify the process the board would use to find his replacement.
“Our standard operating guidelines have a general outline of who qualifies and how much experience is necessary to be in line for my position. So, the general guidelines are there, but they want to get more definitive answers and guidelines to make it all happen, so they aren’t reacting to a situation. They want to be proactive.”
NAFRS board chair Brad Ness said the board selected a committee consisting of himself, Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig, Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen, and NAFRS board member Jerry Anderson to begin the process. Ness said the board will take input from Franek, the city personnel committees, the Human Relations specialists employed by the cities, and other NAFRS stakeholders.
“Succession planning is important,” said Ness, “and it’s good to have a road map. We don’t want any surprises in a process like this.”
Chief Franek has led the department since June of 2000.
