LaCroix spoke for a half an hour at a Richmond City Council meeting on July 31. There were about 60 people present at the meeting. LaCroix discussed the potential for improving the clinic in Richmond.
The city of Richmond would not be taxed to pay for the improvements. Membership in the hospital district does allow the town to have some say in what happens at the clinic.
Right now, the board is considering two options. They will either remodel extensively or erect a new building.
According to LaCroix, the St. Cloud Hospital does not show much interest in building a clinic in Richmond as they would consider it competition for their Cold Spring clinic.
The board will have a special meeting on Sept. 11 to discuss employee contracts. There will be a Joint Conference Committee meeting on Sept. 10. The hospital staff will "inform the board why they want to stay with Minnesota Clinic," LaCroix said.
Depositions for the lawsuit against the Conklin Company are scheduled for Dec. 11-13. The pre-trial is scheduled for Feb. 24, 1997. The trial date is March 10, 1997. "We're going to follow it through · take it to whatever level it needs to go to," LaCroix said.
Ron Frauenshuh, the hospital's attorney, agreed to the one-third/one-fourth retainer agreement. Basically, Frauenshuh receives one-fourth of the settlement if the case settles out of court. If the case is not settled within 30 days of the court date, Frauenshuh receives one-third of the settlement.
In other action, the board:
ð Agreed on a contract with the LPN Union. LPNs will get a three percent raise.
ð Decided to look at the cost of taking out the lockers in the Wellness area. This would allow expansion for the occupational, physical and speech therapy programs.
ð Decided to look into hiring a second ear, nose and throat specialist.
ð Approved Brian Morrison's and Tereasa Simonson's completion of their provisional period.
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