Today, a new cancer center opens in central Minnesota, a new reform to the Homeowners’ Associations laws has homeowners and leaders asking questions, and a reminder about the “Move Over” law for Minnesota’s drivers.
—–Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producer: Kylie Kendall Anchor: Chantel SinGs Reader scripting: Xan HolstonFact checking: Joel Glaser, Victor Palomino Editorial support: Emily Krumberger Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Transcript
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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: Today, a new cancer center opens in central Minnesota. Then, a new reform to the Homeowners' Associations laws has homeowners and leaders asking questions. And, a reminder about the "Move Over" law for Minnesota's drivers.
I'm Chantel SinGs.
Cancer patients in Central Minnesota now have access to care closer to home. The new Coborn Cancer Center in Wadena opened in early July. The 23 million dollar facility includes private treatment bays, exam rooms, and cutting-edge equipment. The center will offer crucial care like radiation and infusion treatments that used to require long drives. The center is part of a partnership between Astera Health and CentraCare aimed at making cancer care more accessible for patients in rural Minnesota.
In today's main story, a new reform bill for Homeowner's Associations received mixed reactions from homeowners and leaders alike. Kylie Kendall reports on what Minnesotans can expect with the new law.
[Nat Sound: "There being 112 ayes and 19 nays, the bill is passed and its title is agreed to."]
Kylie Kendall: A law passed this year will create a new position to help facilitate conflicts within HOAs or Homeowner's Associations. This comes after months of debate about an HOA reform bill from homeowners and leaders alike. HOAs are a group of properties that are overseen by a board of volunteer members.
Mark Foster: So it's essentially a mini community within a community with a set of rules and a set of governing documents.
Kylie Kendall: Mark Foster is the vice president of the HOA Leadership Network. They represent HOA board leaders in Minnesota.
Mark Foster: We saw that there was some targeting going on from state legislators in terms of more oversight on HOAs.
Kylie Kendall: Within the legislation was the creation of an ombudsperson. This position is a neutral, independent official who will help settle conflicts between HOA homeowners and leaders and provide education on homeowners' rights.
Mark Foster: We were a bit surprised that that snuck through.
Kylie Kendall: The ombudsperson will be through the Department of Commerce. Foster says it's the least egregious part of the reform bill.
Mark Foster: We really think that this is going to end up, unless it's structured differently, may end up being just the complaint department of the Department of Commerce.
Kylie Kendall: A homeowner from an Arden Hills HOA largely supported the bill, after multiple concerns with her HOA. She asked to remain anonymous amid fear she could get in trouble for sharing her criticisms. She said one of her main concerns is what she called the authoritarian leadership of her HOA board. She said one example is that the board writes, interprets and enforces all of the rules, ones that are already arbitrary and vague. She thinks the ombudsperson is a "wonderful first step," because it will help educate the homeowners on their rights and what exactly the rules are. But she said, there's still a long way to go. The Community Associations Institute, or CAI, is an organization that was heavily involved with the bill.
Jim Rosvold: Our direct role was to kind of serve as a sounding board or a partner with the legislature.
Kylie Kendall: Jim Rosvold is the chapter president of CAI Minnesota. He said that while the ombudsperson wasn't their first choice for dispute resolution. It'll still be great.
Jim Rosvold: Because it's going to give homeowners and boards another opportunity to resolve disputes before it goes into legal.
Kylie Kendall: Rosvold said sometimes conflicts are just a simple misunderstanding and they get blown out of proportion.
Jim Rosvold: Maybe because, again, it's their homes, and it's very personal, and sometimes it's just a misunderstanding, but when you're in the thick of it, maybe you don't see that.
Kylie Kendall: He said the ombudsperson should help give that outside perspective that will help to solve these issues. The ombudsperson law went into effect on July 1, but the Department of Commerce has yet to hire someone for the role. This is Kylie Kendall for North Star Stories.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.
A close call with the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Department has officials reminding drivers: move over. Earlier this month, a dashcam video footage shows a driver trying to pass a stopped vehicle and nearly crashing head-on into an oncoming squad car with its lights flashing. Officials say it's a stark reminder of Minnesota's Ted Foss Move Over Law, which applies to both stopped and moving emergency vehicles with flashing lights. The law states that drivers must move over or slow down to give police, paramedics, tow trucks, and road crews space to do their jobs safely. Violators can face steep fines, but the real cost is risking someone's life.
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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.