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Meeting held on veterans' home here
Associate Editor Supporters of locating a Minnesota Veterans Home in the Brainerd area met with state officials Tuesday to learn what steps they should take next to ensure this region is considered for the site.
Meeting at the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center campus with area supporters of the veterans home were two representatives of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs: Pamela K. Barrows, senior director of veterans health care, and Everette Wright, facilities program director.
Barrows said the selection of a site is at least a two- or three-year process. Wright said there is much more competition for a home than in earlier years. Wright said the local commitment for a 100-bed veterans home would be just under $9 million or 35 percent. He said that money could come from the state or could be raised locally in a referendum vote.
Barrows said that from an operational perspective those who judge the application likely would look for access to health care, community involvement with the facility and efforts to integrate the clients into the community.
"We've had that kind of community support here," Don Samuelson, a member of the committee supporting the Brainerd area as the site of a veterans home, said.
Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, helped set up the meeting with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
This fall, Little Falls, Crosby and Brainerd ranked first, second and third, among 17 communities that were ranked in a state survey.
Samuelson and Carol Rose, two members of the committee that's seeking a Brainerd area veterans home, said supporters need to prepare pre-design work, complete an application and get all the area communities involved. Samuelson served for many years in the Minnesota Legislature and Rose is a former employee of the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center.
State officials said it would be helpful to have the pre-design and application work done by March 1. They estimated that if a 100-bed veterans home was constructed it would employ a full-time equivalency of 123 workers. Barrows and Wright emphasized they were neutral parties in terms of where a Minnesota veterans home might be located. They said they would assist all communities equally as they prepare applications.
Ward said he and Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, introduced related bonding bills for a veterans home but neither of them received a full House or Senate vote. Ward said he hoped the area's high unemployment rate would be considered by the Legislature.
"We need those jobs but we also need those services for our veterans," Ward said.
Lisa Paxton, chief executive officer of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, talked about the fit between the Brainerd area's medical resources and a potential veterans home.
"We have a tremendous base of health care facilities and a limited number of them are getting full-time hours," Paxton said.
Ward said he sensed that Brainerd area people were starting to come together on this effort.
Rose said she e-mailed a recent Brainerd Dispatch news story on the area's efforts to secure a veterans hospital to a relative of hers who is preparing to retire from the U.S. Marine Corps after 20 years.
"That makes him feel so proud," she said.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
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