Ramsey VA clinic appears to be on schedule

After 10 years of politics, protests and postponements, the new veterans clinic in Ramsey is scheduled to open in November -- and on time.

"When you deal with the federal government, the process is slower than with the private sector," said developer Jim Deal.

He should know. Deal spent 25 years working on federal government projects, primarily with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His patience in business may rival his expertise.

While city officials and developers questioned the way the Veterans Administration handled bids for the new community-based outreach clinic that will serve veterans in the northwestern suburbs, Deal simply filled out forms, answered questions, shrugged his shoulders and waited.

Other developers representing Ramsey, Elk River and competing cities elsewhere complained privately when the VA eliminated cities by changing boundaries after applications were taken and then later reopened the bidding war.

Deal's response?

"Sometimes, this happens."

He loved farming but needed a winter income. So he sold insurance.

Prime architect

He was an insurance agent for the USDA for seven years before moving into a supervisory position. He worked in Springfield, Ill., Des Moines, and St. Paul before being appointed, under President Jimmy Carter's administration, to take charge of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, within the USDA.

"I was the prime architect of this new program that included 85 percent of the farmers in the country," Deal said.

When Carter lost the presidency in 1980, Deal was ready to return to Minnesota. He settled in Anoka and formed an association of crop insurance. He was the CEO and owner of the National Ag Underwriters and NAU Country Insurance Company in Ramsey. He says his company is now the third-largest writer of crop insurance programs in the nation, doing $2 billion in premium income.

Now retired, Deal is considered a national expert on crop insurance and still is asked occasionally to testify before Congress.

Deal also is building the new Allina Medical Clinic in Ramsey, scheduled to open in June.

"There's more waiting when you deal with the federal government," he said. "For instance, a bid has to go out for the interior of the dental clinic within the VA clinic. That won't be done until July 15. Then they give us the design.

"So we work, and we wait. I'm used to it."