To a possible earlier transition of labor and delivery services from Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea to Austin. 

Mayo Clinic Health System announced this week it is considering moving its childbirth services from the Albert Lea campus to Austin by as early as the end of this year.

Previous estimates for the transition were expected to take place in mid- to late 2020, but the hospital system is citing a staffing shortage as the reason the change would need to take place.

We are disappointed at the announcement and feel sorry for those couples who specifically planned their childbirths so they could take place in Albert Lea before the transition of services. If services get moved by the end of the year, many of those families will likely now have to go to a different location to have their babies.

This is particularly critical for mothers on the western side of Freeborn County and beyond, who would have even further to travel to reach Austin.

Labor and delivery services are critical to have in the community, and we encourage community leaders to continue working to attract another provider to keep these services local.

 

To the city’s request for bonding dollars for flood mitigation on East Main Street. 

Thank you to the Albert Lea City Council who identified flood mitigation on U.S.  Highway 65 — also known as East Main Street for most Albert Leans — as its top priority for state bonding dollars in the next legislative session.

The city is requesting $3.5 million for this project.

According to Public Works Director Steven Jahnke, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is planning improvements on East Main; however, those plans do not include a budget for flood mitigation, such as installing pumps or raising the road.

The road has been a problem area for many years and led to closures as long as about two weeks in 2016 because of flooding.

We encourage legislators in the coming session to keep this project a top priority. As one of Albert Lea’s main thoroughfares, East Main Street affects not only local traffic, but businesses and motorists from out of town as well.

 

To church services at Myre-Big Island State Park.

Thanks to the organizers of the nondenominational church services offered Sundays at Myre-Big Island State Park each summer.

The services allow people from multiple churches to gather together and at the same time give people a chance to get out and enjoy nature.

Services are in the outdoor chapel area near the pavilion on big island. In case of rain, they are in the pavilion.