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Council heads into closed session on clinic negotiations after public criticism of health system tactics
Summary
The council moved to a closed session under Minnesota statute to discuss preliminary property negotiations for a health clinic; councilors and residents criticized the negotiating behavior of a health system during public comment and in council remarks.
The Virginia City Council moved into a closed session on May 27 to discuss preliminary property negotiations for the possible sale of land tied to a clinic, and later directed staff to proceed with negotiations as discussed in the closed session.
Legal counsel Brian Lindsey told the council that, since the prior meeting, he and city staff had reached out to a health system (named in meeting discussion) and had “had some very positive meetings since then,” and that additional information would be presented in the closed session.
Why it matters: The clinic lease and potential property sale touch on the city’s efforts to preserve local health services and involve negotiations with a health-system partner. The council invoked Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subdivision 3, paragraph 1, to close the meeting for preliminary property negotiations.
Public and council remarks: During public forum, Councilor Johnson and several residents criticized tactics they said were used by the health system’s representatives. Johnson said the city had been negotiating for years and described outreach from the health system as “heavy handed,” saying staff had received private calls and that the system’s contacts had implied services would be withdrawn if the city did not agree. Johnson said she asked a health-system representative who left a voicemail to speak publicly in the council chamber and that the representative declined.
Council action and staff direction: After a motion and second, the council moved into closed session pursuant to Minnesota statute to discuss parcel ID 090-0030-0369960. When the council reconvened, a motion was carried directing staff to proceed with the property negotiations as discussed in closed session. Councilors later thanked negotiators named by the council—Brian Lindsey and city staff member Bridal Cibenez—for their work on the issue.
Ending: The council’s public materials indicate continued negotiations; the council’s closed-session direction authorizes staff to continue talks and return to council with further results. The city did not disclose negotiation details in open session consistent with the statutory exception for preliminary property negotiations.
