Senator Klobuchar Visits Grand Itasca

Senator Amy Klobuchar stopped by Grand Itasca Hospital Friday afternoon after touring storm damage in the Bemidji area.  She talked with President and CEO Jean MacDonell and other hospital staff about the success of Grand Itasca and about a request for funding for the hospital.  Currently the ER has 10 bays, and they are looking to expand that out to 16 bays, including one that would be an additional trauma bay.  It would also add dedicated space for the hospital security team in the newly remodeled ER.  The senator added her support for the move.  “We want to make this work and do what we can to help with this because I do see this as a growing hospital area, and as you know there’s challenges with some of these Medicaid changes, Medicare changes, which is about hospitals.”

After discussing both the needs and successes of the hospital, the senator talked all things Grand Rapids with Mayor Tasha Connelly.  The Mayor affirmed the city’s support for Grand Itasca before speaking to the growth of Grand Rapids.  Senator Klobuchar and Mayor Connelly discussed population growth, jobs and childcare, local businesses, including cannabis, and how it all relates to housing.  Mayor Connelly cited businesses such as HWY 35 Cannabis, Yanmar, and Grand Itasca, “Everybody’s bringing in people, but we need housing.”

Towards the end of the meeting, Senator Klobuchar asked Mayor Connelly about tourism in Grand Rapids.  Citing organizations like Visit Grand Rapids and Explore Minnesota, the Mayor said tourism “is our bread and butter” especially in the summer months, bringing up last weekend’s Swap Meet and Car Show and Tall Timber Days coming up this weekend, saying “our logging history and theme is amplified that weekend, so log rolling and all the plaid you could possibly want!”  Lighting the room up with laughter, the Senator quipped, “Too bad I’ll be voting” before wrapping up the conversation with the Mayor and hospital administrators.