At the hospital board’s most recent meeting a discussion was held about the current status of the North Shore Health helipad.
Hospital administrator Kimber Wraalstad said that according to the Minnesota Transportation Department, Aviation Division, the site for the hospital’s helipad would likely be determined to be non-compliant due to improper clearance and slopes in the approach and departure lanes.
“Minnesota has a high level of requirements that have changed significantly since the helipad was originally installed and these regulations do not go particularly well with our geography,” she said, adding, “North Shore Health will continue to explore possible solutions.”
Parking lot lighting
Over the last several months a local “dark sky group” has worked with Chris Lange, director of maintenance, on ways to dampen the parking lot lighting at the hospital/care center.
In a memo from Lange to the board, Lange said the dark sky group prefers that the hospital replace the current light bulbs and install dimmers on existing fixtures, but if changing the light bulbs wasn’t an option, they would accept the option of placing dimmers on current fixtures.
Lange noted the dark sky group offered to raise 10 percent of the cost for the dimmers to help pay for them.
Lange presented two options to the board. The first called for leaving the current lighting as designed, installed and inspected which wouldn’t cost the hospital anything.
The second choice called for purchasing and installing a dimmer module that is programmable with different levels of light while providing safe lighting for anyone needing to access the hospital. The cost to provide that is $6,688.
Following a lengthy discussion hospital board member Steve Nielsen made a motion seconded by Justin Mueller to proceed with purchasing the dimmers with a 10 percent donation. The motion failed when fellow board members Sharon Bloomquist, Kay Olson and Randy Wiitala voted against the resolution.
Amy Lacina announces resignation
Amy Lacina, RN, director of nursing for the hospital, has announced her resignation from North Shore Health effective September 14, 2018.
Lacina, who began her employment at North Shore Health in March 2012, has been director of nursing since February 2017. She is moving to the Rochester area for work.
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