Grand Forks Mayor Brown says city handled LM Wind Power COVID-19 outbreak properly

 

Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown says he feels his city handled the COVID-19 outbreak at LM Wind Power the way they should have. Brown, who appeared on What’s On Your Mind on Thursday, says “the message was carried, and I felt that was appropriate.”

LM Wind Power, which is owned by GE Renewable Energy, was closed earlier this month for extensive disinfecting, and, on April 16, North Dakota State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte issued a quarantine order for all LM Wind Power employees. More than 100 positive cases have been linked to LM Wind Power.

“They shut the plant down,” Brown said. “They immediately responded in the best manner.”

Brown says that, on March 22, an email came into city officials raining a concern from an LM employee. Subsequent emails also came in, causing the City to take action.

“The decision to notify the institution that there was concerns of an employee,” Brown told WZFG Radio. The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Council was the liaision between the City and LM Wind Power, Brown says. The council’s President and CEO, Keith Lund, has a good relationship with top management, Brown says.

“EDC spoke with the plant manager,” Brown said. “Who assured him CDC guidelines were being followed.”