While befuddled veterans and local officials wonder how a new northwest-metro VA clinic can open this year as promised, after the sudden departure of the contractor responsible for choosing a site, two developers confirmed Thursday that they have been contacted by the Department of Veterans Affairs about bids. One is from Ramsey, the other from Elk River.
Jim Deal, who proposed building a clinic near the half-vacant Ramsey Town Center along Hwy. 10, said a firm representing his company was questioned Tuesday "about the bid and some of the things we've done."
Deal said he believes the city of Ramsey, which has a separate bid of its own at the Town Center, also received a call from somebody representing the VA, but he wasn't sure whether that involved his bid or the city's. Ramsey Mayor Bob Ramsey, who said he called the VA on Monday, was unaware of any other contact with the department.
Ron Touchette, a developer hoping to build the clinic near the Wal-Mart and Home Depot stores in Elk River, received what may have been an "identical" call, "a request for clarification" a couple of weeks ago, he said.
With a Community Based Outpatient Clinic expected to be used by veterans from Anoka, Sherburne, Hennepin, Wright and Isanti counties, Touchette said "a complicated process is expected."
For months, officials in Ramsey and Elk River -- which five years ago was deemed the likely home of the clinic that is supposed to open this year -- have been left guessing.
Saying little publicly during the process, VA contractor Lee Wiech created geographic boundaries and then changed them after the original application deadline, eliminating Anoka and Coon Rapids.
Then, just weeks ago -- six months after he closed the original application process -- Wiech left his position, confirmed VA spokesman Ralph Heussner. Heussner had no explanation. Calls to Wiech and to Kim Hurt, who oversees the VA contracting office, were not immediately returned.
