INFORMATION #2 11-03-2008!NF®RM~TIG1
October 15, 2008
Dr. Robert A. Petzel
VA Midwest Health Care Director
VISN 23 - Minnapolis Office
Building 9 - 2~d Floor
5445 Minnehaha Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Dear Dr, Petzel:
We, the Sherburne County Board of Commissioners are asking your help in bringing a VA Community
Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) to Elk River, Minnesota. We fully agree with the original VA CARES
Commission Report Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services] that selected Elk River as an optimal
site for the placement of a VA Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). It is our concern that the subsequent VA's
business plan changed the location from Elk River, MN, to the 'NW Metro Region' as the proposed site.
This creates a more ambiguous situation for us as we plan for it's location in Elk River.
It is important to note, that shortly after the CARES Report was published in 2004, the Sherburne County
Board of Commissioners and Minnesota Commissioner of Veterans Affairs met with you to discuss the
CBOC project. The purpose of this meeting was to gain a better understanding of the project and to
demonstrate our genuine support and resolve by offering community resources to ensure it's successful
completion. We had hoped that this meeting would be the beginning of ongoing dialog and cooperation, in
spite of the project being several years out. We were informed in the fall of 2007 that the CBOC Business
Plan had been prepared and was being sent to Central Office in Washington, D.C. Following a
comprehensive review process (General Review, Technical Review and National Task Force Review), the
CBOC business plan was then forwarded to VA Secretary Peake, for approval.
It is our understanding that the VA CBOC Business Plan details the broad specifications of the project, and
once approved, becomes the funding authority. In late July, we were informed by your office that the
CBOC Business Plan had been approved by VA Secretary Peake; however our request for a copy of the
approved business plan was denied, pending the official distribution of the Request for Proposal (RFP) by
the contracting office. We were referred to Kevin Hendricks, the Minneapolis VA contracting officer, and
told that there has been another delay in the CBOC Request for Proposal (RFP) timeline distribution. He
stated the .delay was due to the fact that the project has been expanded to a 'Super CBOC' which
significantly changes the size, capacity and types of services that are provided.
Of great concern is that this delay continues to hinder our attempts at obtaining specific information
pertaining to the specifications of the "Super CBOC' project.. In the interim of the RFP being distributed, we
are requesting from you, a copy of the approved CBOC Business Plan. Furthermore, we are requesting full
inclusion in the RFP process, to include notification of all updates and amendments. A CBOC located in
Elk River would provide healthcare to over 6,000 Sherburne County veterans, in addition to enhancing
accessibility to veterans in our neighboring communities such as Anoka, Wright, & Isanti Counties. We
believe Elk River is favored for the following reasons:
Elk River is centrally located and easily accessible from other communities, by way of several major
highway systems.
Dr. Robert A. Petzel
October 15, 2008
Page 2
^ A location north of I-94 would eliminate the need for veterans to drive to Anoka, Elk River or Monticello
to cross the Mississippi River to access their care.
^ The North Star Commuter Rail is scheduled to open in 2009, with stations in Big Lake, Elk River and
Anoka; with possible future expansion into St. Cloud.
^ Sherburne County will donate land next to the County Courthouse on Highway 10, which serves as the
major corridor linking all of the communities being served.
^ The Sherburne County Veterans Service office is located in the County Courthouse, adjacent to the
property being donated.
^ A large medical clinic is within'/4 mile on highway 10 and they have expressed a willingness to
expand.
^ Elk River is centrally located between the Minneapolis and St. Cloud VA Medical Centers, for referred
care that could not be provided by the CBOC.
• A location south of the Mississippi River will duplicate access already provided by the Mpls VAMC and
decrease the accessibility to veterans residing north of the River.
^ Elk River possess the required infrastructure & growth to fully support a VA Community Based
Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
Please know that Sherburne County is committed to honoring our veterans by ensuring that we provide the
necessary resources and support to facilitate this process. We ask for your support in this important
endeavor.
Sincerely,
me Engstrom, Chairp rson
Commissioner -District 1
i
Felix Schmiesing
Commissioner -District 4
,,
~~
~ ~'~
Ewald Petersen ~ ohn Riebel
Commissioner -District 2 ommissioner -District 3
~~~~~
Rachel Leonard, ice Chairperson
Commissioner -District 5
cc: The Honorable James K. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
The Honorable Michael J. Kussman, Under Secretary for Veterans Health Administration
The Honorable Michele Bachmann, 6th Congressional District, Minnesota
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar, United States Senate, Minnesota
The Honorable Norman Coleman, United States Senate, Minnesota
The Honorable Clark Dyrud, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
the Honorable Stephanie Klinzing ,Mayor, City of Elk River
Mr. Kevin Hendricks, Chief Logistician, Contracting Office, Minneapolis VA Medical Center
The Honorable Senator Tarryl Clark, Minnesota
The Honorable Senator Michael Jungbauer, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Sondra Erickson, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Tom Hackbarth, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Larry Haws, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Mark Olson, Minnesota
14
r.
October 15, 2008
Dr. Robert A. Petzel
VA Midwest Health Care Director
VISN 23 -Minneapolis Office
Building 9 - 2~d Floor
5445 Minnehaha Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Dear Dr. Petzel
On behalf of the veterans, citizens and communities of Sherburne County, the Sherburne County Board of
Commissioners formally requests to be included in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for a VA
Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) that has been approved for the `NW Mefro Area', Minnesota.
Specifically, we request to receive a copy of the approved CBOC Business Plan, Request for Proposal
(RFP) package, with all related supplemental documents and forms. Additionally, we request to be notified
of all updates and amendments relevant to this proposed CBOC project. Please forward all documents to
the following address:
Sherburne County Veterans Service Office
13880 Highway 10 West
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330
We look forward to working with you on this important project.
Sincerely, .
Cam"
. o~`~~
Arne Engstrom, Chairperson Ewald Petersen John Riebel
Commissioner -District 1 Commissioner -District 2 Commissioner -District 3
Felix Schmiesing
Commissioner -District 4
~~~~
Rachel Leonard, Vice Chairperson
Commissioner -District 5
cc: The Honorable James K. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
The Honorable Michael J. Kussman, Under Secretary for Veterans Health Administration
The Honorable Michele Bachmann, 6m Congressional District, Minnesota
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar, United States Senate, Minnesota
The Honorable Norman Coleman, United States Senate, Minnesota
The Honorable Clark Dyrud, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
~ ~/ The Honorable Stephanie Klinzing ,Mayor, City of Elk River
Mr. Kevin Hendricks, Chief Logistician, Contracting Office, Mpls VA Medical Center
The Honorable Senator Tarryl Clark, Minnesota
The Honorable Senator Michael Jungbauer, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Sondra Erickson, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Tom Hackbarth, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Larry Haws, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Mark Olson
0 CT 2 4 2008
October 15, 2008
The Honorable Michele Bachmann
United States Congresswoman
6~ District of Minnesota
412 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Bachmann:
We, the Sherburne County Board of Commissioners are asking your help in bringing a VA Community
Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) to Elk River, Minnesota. We fully agree with the original VA CARES
Commission Report (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services) that selected Elk River as an optimal
site for the placement of a VA Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). It is .our concern that the subsequent VA's
business plan changed the location from Elk River, MN, to the 'NW Mefro Region' as the proposed site.
This creates a more ambiguous situation for us as we plan for it's location in Elk River.
It is important to note, that shortly after the CARES Report was published in 2004, the Sherburne County
Board of Commissioners and Minnesota Commissioner of Veterans Affairs met with Dr. Petzel, the VISN
23 Director. The purpose of this meeting was to gain a better understanding of the CBOC project and to
demonstrate our genuine support and resolve by offering community resources to ensure it's successful
completion. We had hoped that this meeting would be the beginning of ongoing dialog and cooperation, in
spite of the project being several years out. We were informed in the fall of 2007 that the CBOC Business
Plan had been prepared and was being sent to Central Office in Washington, D.C. Following a
comprehensive review process (General Review, Technical Review and National Task Force Review) the
CBOC business plan was then forwarded to VA Secretary Peake, for approval.
It is our understanding that the VA CBOC Business Plan details the broad specifications of the project, and
once approved, becomes the funding authority. In late July, we were informed by Dr. Petzel's office, VISN
23 Director, that the CBOC Business Plan had been approved by VA Secretary Peake; however our
request for a copy of the approved business plan was denied, pending the official distribution of the
Request for Proposal (RFP) by the contracting office. We were referred to Kevin Hendricks, the
Minneapolis VA contracting officer, and told that there has been arother delay in the CBOC Request for
Proposal (RFP) timeline distribution. He stated the delay was due to the fact that the project has been
expanded to a 'Super CBOC' which significantly changed the size, capacity and types of services that are
provided.
Of great concern is that this delay continues to hinder our attempts at obtaining specific information
pertaining to the specifications and timeline of the "Super CBOC' project. In the interim of the RFP being
distributed, we have requested a copy of the approved CBOC Business Plan from Dr. Petzel. Furthermore,
we are requesting full inclusion in the RFP process, to include notification of all updates and amendments.
A CBOC located in Elk River would provide healthcare to over 6,000 Sherburne County veterans, in
addition to enhancing accessibility to veterans in our neighboring communities such as Anoka, Wright, &
Isanti Counties. We believe Elk River is favored for the following reasons:
Elk River is centrally located and easily accessible from other communities, by way of several major
highway systems.
^ A location north of I-94 would eliminate the need for veterans to drive to Anoka, Elk River or Monticello
to cross the Mississippi River to access their care.
^ The North Star Commuter Rail is scheduled to open in 2009, with stations in Big Lake, Elk River and
Anoka; with possible future expansion into St. Cloud.
^ Sherburne County will supply land next to the County Courthouse on Highway 10, which serves as the
major corridor linking all of the communities being served.
^ The Sherburne County Veterans Service office is also located in the County Courthouse, which
provides easy access for veterans to apply for other VA benefits.
^ A large medical clinic is within'/. mile on highway 10 and they have expressed a willingness to
expand.
^ Elk River is centrally located between the Minneapolis and St. Cloud VA Medical Centers, for referred
care that could not be provided by the CBOC.
^ A location south of the Mississippi River will duplicate access already provided by the Minneapolis
VAMC and decrease the accessibility to veterans residing north of the River.
^ Elk River possess the required infrastructure & growth to fully suppor# a VA Community Based
Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
Please know that Sherburne County is committed to honoring our veterans by ensuring that we provide the
necessary resources and support to facilitate this process. We ask for your support in this important
endeavor.
Sincerely,
...~--
Arne Engstrom, Chairperson
Commissioner -District 1
Felix Schmiesing
Commissioner -District 4
~~~P~~
Ewald Petersen
Commissioner -District 2
Rachel Leonard, ice Chairperson
Commissioner -District 5
John Riebel
Commissioner -District 3
cc: James K. Peake, Secretary of. Veterans Affairs
The Honorable Michael J. Kussman, Under Secretary for Veterans Health Administration
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar, United States Senate, Minnesota
The Honorable Norman Coleman, United States Senate, Minnesota
The Honorable Clark Dyrud, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
The Honorable Stephanie Klinzing ,Mayor, City of Elk River
Mr. Kevin Hendricks, Chief Logistician, Contracting Office, Mpls VA Medical Center
The Honorable Senator Tanyl Clark, Minnesota
The Honorable Senator Michael Jungbauer, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Sondra Erickson, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Tom Hackbarth, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Lany Haws, Minnesota
The Honorable Representative Mark Olson, Minnesota