Yesterday, saying he is looking forward to the next chapter in his life, Northfield Hospital + Clinics’ CEO and President Steve Underdahl announced that he will retire at the end of 2024.
Underdahl has been president and CEO of NH+C for eleven years. Under his leadership, the organization has seen great success, even in some extremely challenging situations. A statement issued by NH+C said during his tenure, the organization launched and expanded their OB and Midwifery, Hospitalists, Orthopedics, General Surgery and Cancer Care programs. The hospital’s surgery center expanded in 2015, the Faribault clinic was expanded in 2019. In 2021, NH+C opened a clinic in Kenyon, unveiled their extremely popular expanded birth center, and opened what is now recognized as one of the most successful wound healing centers in the country. NH+C also opened two Urgent Care Clinics, one in Lakeville in 2013, and the other in Northfield in 2022.
NH+C revenues have grown by 60% during his time as President and CEO.
The statement said with the Covid-19 Pandemic over, and the economics of the organization under control, NH+C is in a good position to handle a change in leadership.
The Governance & Planning Committee of the Board of Directors will function as the executive search group, along with NH+C’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeff Meland, and a representative of the staff. The full Board of Directors will make the final decision in selecting Underdahl’s successor.
Underdahl will be missed.
A gifted communicator, he showed himself to be a particularly effective community leader during the pandemic. His regular updates on the state of things at the hospital, his understanding of the vaccine development process, and his common sense, matter-of-fact approach in addressing the community during the pandemic’s toughest moments was appreciated throughout the area. Sarah Carlsen, the Chair of the NH+C Board of Directors praised Underdahl’s vision and leadership saying,
“His talent for long-range strategy, coupled with an ability to respond quickly to meet unexpected challenges, has been a strong asset to NH+C. Steve has provided strong and committed leadership through some dramatically challenging times in healthcare. We’re grateful for all the work he and his team have done to get NH+C to a stable position and poised for a smooth, successful transition.”
Mayoral race could be crowded
The candidate filing period for the 2024 election opened yesterday for most federal, state, county and city offices, and several people wasted no time in throwing their hats into the political ring.
In Northfield, Mayor Rhonda Pownell put any question about her candidacy to rest by submitting an affidavit for candidacy. Pownell was elected to the City Council in 2008 and was elected mayor in 2016. By winning the 2020 election, she became the first two-term Northfield mayor in twenty years. A third mayoral term has not been seen in Northfield in decades. Pownell said her priorities are creating a healthy civic environment that can move the community forward as one, implementing better long-range strategic planning and smarter fiscal responsibility, improving housing affordability and availability for all, and strengthening what she called Northfield’s vibrant and diverse local economy by growing existing businesses and the commercial and industrial tax base.
“It is my hope that bringing people together in a spirit of collaboration and championing a relentless positive attitude and optimism, an appreciation for people and an aggressive celebration of our accomplishments will help transform our community and leave it in better condition for future generations.”
Setting up an interesting dynamic in the race, Erica Zweifel, who served alongside Mayor Pownell for twelve years as a member of the City Council, filed the paperwork to make her candidacy official as well.
Asked why she was running for mayor, Zweifel said during her time away from the Council, she has been surprised by the number of high-priced city projects coming in a short period of time and leading to large tax levy increases. She has found the tracking of those projects to be challenging, and she believes Northfielders are concerned about being heard and managing the increase in their taxes.
Timothy Babbini also filed as a candidate for mayor yesterday. Babbini announced his candidacy more than a year ago, and since then he has been a critic of city spending, touching on projects ranging from bicycle lanes to the possibility of the new ice arena, and the proposed downtown development projects all of which he opposes. In a video on his Facebook page yesterday, Babbini said he is dismayed to see two of his friends decide to leave Northfield because they no longer feel they can afford the property taxes on their homes.
Two other announced candidates for mayor, Ruth Dahl and Adam Gebler did not file yesterday, but have approximately two weeks to do so.
Northfield City Councilor Brad Ness filed to retain his seat for a third term yesterday. Along with Ness, the Council seats in the 2nd Ward held by Councilor Jami Reister and the 3rd Ward held by George Zuccolotto, both of whom are finishing their first terms, will be on the ballot in November. While neither of the incumbents has yet filed for re-election, should they do so, each will be met with a challenger.
Peter Dahlen, a local attorney who is a former chair of the City Charter Commission and has also served on the Public Safety Committee, filed to run for the 3rd Ward seat. Dahlen said on his website that he is concerned about the responsiveness of the Council to community concerns, and does not support bicycle lane projects, or downtown redevelopment projects that use taxpayer money to assist developers.
Chad Beumer has filed for the 2nd Ward seat. Beumer, a site supervisor with Woodland Construction in Minnetonka. A message on his Facebook page said he is running to provide what he calls “actual representation for the people of our community on the city council.” The message goes on to say that there is a need for common sense in the city’s spending habits, and that as a councilor he would weigh “needed” vs. “wanted.”
A primary on August 13th will be held to determine the top two candidates in any race with three or more people running.
The filing period will remain open until 5pm on June 4th. Election Day is November 5th.
KYMN Daily News 5/22/24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
