(Spirit Lake)– It originally wasn’t supposed to happen until sometime between 2005 and 2012, but plans for a Veteran’s Administration clinic in Spirit Lake have been suddenly put on a fast track. Now, the clinic is slated to open sometime in the next year or two.
Dickinson County Veteran’s Affairs Director John Tonsfeldt says the clinic will serve Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Osceola and O’Brien counties in Iowa and Jackson, Martin and Nobles counties in southwest Minnesota.
Tonsfeldt says an exact location for the clinic in Spirit Lake hasn’t been selected yet. He says the V-A is looking to lease an existing building.
Tonsfeldt says the V-A has budgeted 1.5 million dollars for the first year operations of the Spirit Lake clinic.
Tonsfeldt is encouraging veterans, their spouses and anyone else interested to attend some upcoming informational meetings to further explain the Spirit Lake V-A Clinic and the services that will be provided there. Meetings will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, October 5th and 6th. Tuesday’s meetings are set for 9:00 a.m. at the courtroom of the Osceola county courthouse in Sibley; 11:00 a.m. in the assembly room of the O’Brien county courthouse in Primghar; 1:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Spencer; 3:15 p.m. at the Milford Community Center; and 7:30 p.m. at the Expo Building in Spirit Lake.
Wednesday’s meetings are scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at the Estherville VFW; 11:00 a.m. at the Human Resources Building in Fairmont; and 1:30 p.m. at the Jackson American Legion.
