Brooke Wohlrabe

Truman approves lease with Madelia Health

TRUMAN — The Truman City Council approved a five-year lease with Madelia Health during Monday evening’s meeting.

City Clerk, Amy Huber, said nothing changed from when the council reviewed the contract last council meeting except for the removal of the non-compete clause so there won’t be a conflict with Mayo if the mobile clinic ever comes to town.

During the July 19 meeting, Madelia Health CEO Jeff Mengenhausen said they would like to rent the facility attached to Truman Senior Living and provide primary healthcare five days a week. Mengenhausen said they would have a consistent provider.

He said starting out they’d have one nurse practitioner, one nurse and one front desk person. If someone needs to go on vacation or something happens, they would pull staff from Madelia.

In other news, the council heard from two representatives of Public Power Energy Services. The city is exploring options for better rates as the current rates are well above market rates.

Heartland Consumers Power District has been supplying the city of Truman with wholesale power and the city is contracted with Heartland through 2041.

The council stressed that they’re interested in finding ways to get lower rates for residents.

“We have never not saved anyone some money,” said one representative of Public Power Energy Services.

The council wants to move quickly on the offer but tabled the issue as council member Jake Ebert was not present for Monday night’s meeting.

The council also heard from Minnesota State Representative, Bjorn Olson, who was present at Monday’s meeting. Olson is currently going to all of the city council and school board meetings in the district he represents.

Olson said he sits on three committees: rules, local government and transportation. He told the council a little about what he does and what he can do for the city.

“I was just at Sherburn and they thanked me from the bottom of their hearts for a $3 million dollar road project that they had. I had 25 bills that I was the chief author on in St. Paul and three of those 25 were funded in some way, shape, or form. I had nothing for Truman,” Olson said.

He encouraged the council that if there’s a project that they’re looking at in the next few years to let him know as it takes time to get something passed.

“I’ll fight as hard as I can for it. I can’t guarantee anything. I’m one vote out 134, but I’ll fight as hard as I can for the city of Truman,” Olson said.

Councilmember Brandon Mosloski asked what kind of funding was available for small towns. Olson said that Legacy Funding is often used on things like parks and trails.

The council was interested as it has been looking at improving the campground as well as installing a pickleball court.