I have just finished rereading the Tribune articles about Mayo Clinic “consolidating” (moving) services from Albert Lea to Austin. This action generates several emotions, anger, frustration, disappointment, but mostly a feeling of betrayal. I’m sure this is part of a plan laid out several years ago, one that included massive growth of the Mayo central headquarters in Rochester and involves $500 million of state funds.

I am angry because Mayo is our city’s largest employer, and I frankly don’t believe the vague assurances that these moves won’t significantly reduce those numbers. Our hospital has become the heart of our city. Each move they make moves us down an irreversible decline as a city.

I am frustrated and disappointed because I lent my name and effort to raise community dollars toward the building of our new hospital. Many others in our community did as well as evidenced by the wall of names on the first floor of the clinic. In short, I feel we were used. Mayo persuaded me they were going to make our city a better place. I believed them. Now I feel I was hoodwinked. To Mayo, I say, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Paul Overgaard

Albert Lea