Anoka joins Elk River, Ramsey in bid for new veterans clinic

In what has been widely viewed as a contest between Elk River and Ramsey for a new veterans clinic in the northwestern suburbs, here comes Anoka -- with at least one and possibly several bids from developers seeking to serve Anoka County's 26,500 veterans.

An Anoka city official said Wednesday that developer Ryan Companies applied on the city's behalf for the Veterans Affairs clinic that would offer an alternative for patients who now travel to VA centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud. Ryan official Joanna Hicks confirmed that the company filed submissions for "a few sites" in Anoka ahead of Tuesday's deadline for giving proposals to the VA.

The VA did not disclose the number or names of applicants for the clinic, but at least three other downtown Anoka property owners were considering submitting bids, said Bob Kirchner, the city's community development director.

Meanwhile, Elk River -- identified five years ago as the likely home for a new clinic -- may have had as many as eight bids submitted on its behalf, said City Administrator Lori Johnson. At least one company, John C. Weicht & Associates, confirmed submitting an application for property near Elk River's Northstar commuter rail station.

The city of Ramsey made a bid for the center, and there may have been a second application from a local businessman, said Mayor Bob Ramsey.

Just days ago, officials in Elk River and Sherburne County, where Elk River is located, bemoaned VA officials' newly drawn site boundaries that eliminated the city's two leading locations -- one near the Sherburne County Government Center, the other at an existing clinic. But now the city, endorsed a year ago by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann "as a prime location" for the clinic, suddenly seems invigorated.

"This may work out in our favor. We think the Northstar depot is where the VA has been looking all along," Johnson said, referring to the city's station on the Northstar line that will begin operating in November.

The Anoka County board endorsed Ramsey for the clinic three months ago. It doesn't have a station yet on the Northstar line, but there are other aspects that might work in its favor. With its near-vacant Township Center project, Ramsey can accommodate the 19,900 square feet and 100 parking spaces the VA is requiring for the clinic. And it is in Anoka County, whose veteran population outnumbers the combined ranks of veterans from Sherburne, Wright, Isanti and western Hennepin counties expected to use the clinic. Sherburne County has 6,000 veterans.

Now the matter is in the hands of VA contracting officer Lee Wiech. Bachmann has overseen two meetings in Elk River concerning the proposed clinic, and another meeting, again at the Elk River American Legion Hall, is scheduled for Oct. 1.