|
Jan Callison
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Allyson Lueneburg
Principal Aide
612-348-6885
Becky Westergren
Administrative Assistant
612-348-3168
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
View map enlargement
Find past issues of my monthly newsletter.
County departments, agencies & other entities
Elected & appointed officials
Hennepin County libraries
Hennepin County Medical Center
Hennepin volunteers
Online services
Phone directory
Service Center information
Southwest light rail
Understanding your property tax
Fall clean up can be frustrating unless you know how to get rid
of your unwanted stuff. Hennepin County has done the heavy lifting with the new
online resource, Green Disposal Guide, www.hennepin.us/greendisposalguide.
Yard waste, mattresses, paint or fluorescent light bulbs—some
stuff just needs to go. The Green Disposal Guide offers a range of disposal
options—from recycling to donation to disposal—while also giving tips on
shopping smarter, living greener and creating less waste.
Election officials from Hennepin County and the City of Minnetonka tested electronic poll (e-poll) books at an event on October 22 at the Minnetonka City Hall.
In 2014, the state legislature authorized the use of e-poll books. Starting in 2016, secured tablets or laptop computers will replace the current paper voter check-in process. The technology will help speed up lines at the polls, help election judges through registration, provide cities data on polling place activity and more.
Next year, Hennepin County will train cities and provide training materials for election judges. Cities will store the devices, prepare them for Election Day and train election judges to use them properly.
Northern Segment
- Blaine Avenue to Breezy Point is scheduled to receive temporary bituminous paving for the winter. Next year the city sewer and water will be installed requiring deep cuts and pavement loss. Work on the newly designed curve will occur next year
- The east/west section from Breezy Point to the approach of Grays Bay bridge has not been disturbed and will carry traffic this winter. Work will resume next spring with city sewer to be installed prior to road work completion
- The causeway area is scheduled for curb and gutter in early November with paving to follow
- The MN Indian Affairs Council and Hamline University recovery and reburial work has ceased for the year. The remaining top soil will be screened next year
- The county goal is to provide a paved road from Minnetonka Boulevard to the Eastman/McGinty intersection for winter
Southern Segment
- Minnetonka Boulevard to just south of Blaine Avenue has curb/gutter and is paved. The county is currently working on the sidewalk, bituminous trail and driveways in the section
- Hutchins Drive to Tracy Lynn Terrace is estimated to be done by the end of this year, with southerly work done next year
- The 101/Excelsior Boulevard intersection is anticipated to be fully paved by Thanksgiving and the new signal installation finished in the first half of December
Hennepin County constructed a gravel-bed nursery with 500 trees
in the spring that will now be planted on a variety of county projects and
properties. The gravel-bed nursery gives the county access to hardy, diverse
and cost-effective trees that will be used to proactively address emerald ash
borer infestations and learn more about tree species that survive well in an
urban environment.
Trees were purchased from commercial nurseries and transplanted
to the gravel-bed nursery in the spring. While in the gravel bed throughout the
summer, the trees have been growing and developing a good root structure. They
will now be transplanted to a variety of county projects and properties,
including in District 6:
- Orono Work Station buckthorn
removal and woodlot restoration: 30 native trees from the gravel bed are
being planted in a woodlot where European buckthorn was recently removed.
The trees will occupy growing space that would otherwise be refilled by
buckthorn.
- Hennepin County libraries:
Gravel-bed trees will be used to replace ash trees slated for removal at
several libraries where infested ash trees are present or have already
been removed.
|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Greetings,
I hope you are enjoying my electronic newsletters, and find them interesting and informative about county activities. In addition to my monthly newsletter, the county sends various
newsletters and notifications available by email or text message. To explore the many opportunities to
subscribe or to change your preferences, visit the subscription webpage.
Please feel free to send me your comments through my feedback form on issues that concern you or you would like covered. I value your opinions.
Warm regards,
Jan Callison
October 06, 2015
$3.8 million federal grant will expand successful lead abatement program
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners voted to accept a
27-month, $3.7 million federal grant to continue residential lead hazard
mitigation in Hennepin County. Over the past 10 years, Hennepin County and
partners have carried out lead abatement projects in about 4,100 homes, with
the aid of $29 million in grants. The current grant will fund 400 lead
inspections and create about 350 lead-safe homes. The average cost to make a
dwelling lead-safe is $6,500; financing varies from case to case. This grant
will also address home health and safety hazards in the enrolled homes such as
trips/falls, radon, and moisture.
Workforce Development grant funding
The County Board accepted $100,000 in 2015 workforce development grant funding from the McKnight Foundation and $300,000 in 2015 workforce development grant funding from the MN DEED - MN Pathways to Prosperity Program.
The Workforce Development division was created to establish relationships within the county, in the
community and with the business, higher education, philanthropy and nonprofit sectors necessary to build
the public/private infrastructure to meet our workforce needs and those of the largest employers in our
region. The grant funding was sought to support the development of the Hennepin Workforce
Leadership Council and the Health Advocate pathway training.
October 20, 2015
Program will promote hiring opportunities in areas where projects are located
The County Board directed the county administrator to develop a
joint application with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to
participate in the Local Labor Hiring Program. Through the federal Department
of Transportation, this program promotes hiring opportunities and offers
limited hiring preferences for residents of the communities where
infrastructure projects will be located, residents of economically challenged
communities, Hennepin County veterans and people who are in training to become
skilled workers. Projects proposed for the program in 2016 include Bottineau
Boulevard, 66th Street and Highway 169.
Federal grant, state match will help homeless families transition from shelter to stable housing
The Hennepin County Board voted to accept a $503,868 federal
Department of Housing and Urban Development Department grant to provide a rapid
rehousing program for families during 2016. The Continuum of Care grant will be
supplemented by a 25 percent match from Minnesota Housing’s Housing Trust Fund
and a variety of state-funded human services programs. Rapid rehousing helps
families to find, secure and transition into housing from shelter. Once in
housing, families receive supportive services to increase their incomes and
access community-based resources. The program is working toward a goal to keep
70 percent of families in stable, permanent, decent, affordable housing for at
least 12 months.
- In 2013, the program served 915 households – 1,135
adults and 1,639. Of those households, 71 percent successfully
transitioned into permanent housing.
- In 2014, the program served 702 households – 880 adults
and 1,266 children. Of those households, 67 percent successfully
transitioned into permanent housing.
Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
The County Board appointed Maressia Twele to the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Citizen Advisory Committee. For more information about the Watershed District, please visit their website.
Agendas and minutes of action taken by the Hennepin County Board are posted under Hennepin County meetings and agendas. For greater detail on the above agenda items and additional board actions, visit county news releases.
In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the board
often meets on Thursday mornings to receive board briefings. These are
informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are
made. Board briefings occur in the board room on the 24th floor of the
Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.
October 08, 2015
Natural Resources Strategic Plan
In
follow up to an earlier briefing, Environmental and Energy staff updated
commissioners on changes to the proposed Natural Resources Strategic Plan as a
result of feedback from the public input process. The Plan is intended to “guide the county and
its partners in responding to natural resource issues and developing internal
and external policies, programs and partnerships that improve, protect and
preserve our natural resources.” It is
expected to return to the Board in November for action.
October 22, 2015
Trail and Excess Land Use
This
briefing dealt with questions relating to the use and disposal of Hennepin
County Regional Railroad Authority (“HCRRA”) property, in particular the
Southwest LRT corridor and corridors in Carver County. Staff provided an update on eventual disposal
of the HCRRA corridor, focused on options for eventually transferring ownership
to the Metropolitan Council and/or to the appropriate parks boards (for the
trail portion of the corridor). For
HCRRA land lying outside of Hennepin County, staff asked for direction from the
Board regarding connecting with the Carver County Regional Railroad Authority
about eventual acquisition.
November 02, 2015
Groundbreaking Ceremony - Human Services Center
On November 02, 2015 at 10 AM there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Hennepin County Human Services Center and mixed-use development at Lake Street/Hiawatha Avenue.
The transit-oriented development features a range of residential options with more than 500 housing units, as well as retail space and parking. Additional elements include a transit plaza connecting to a public gathering space, the permanent home for the Midtown Farmers Market. The groundbreaking marks the start of construction for the Human Services Center and street-level retail space. The transit plaza, 114 rental housing units and parking facility round out this initial phase, which opens in 2017.
For more information call Hennepin County Communications at 612-348-3848.
November 03, 2015
General Election day
Voting in elections is your opportunity to be heard, hold elected officials accountable and have a say in important issues that affect your community. Prepare to vote so you can take part in our democracy. Visit the county elections webpage to find out all of the information you will need to know for the election process.
November 10, 2015
Hennepin County Veterans' Service grand opening
Hennepin
County Veterans’ Service is working to improve access in suburban areas of the
county. Several new locations will put our services within a 15-minute drive
for 95 percent of the people we serve.
Veterans and their family members
can call 612-348-3300 to make an appointment at the new location in Mound, as
well as Plymouth, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Brooklyn Center.
The public is
invited to a grand opening event on Thursday, November 10 from 9 AM to 10 AM at Westonka Library, 2079 Commerce Boulevard, Mound.
Upcoming key budget dates
December 01, 2015
Truth-in-Taxation public meeting
6:00 PM at the Hennepin County Government Center
December 15, 2015
County Board vote on the 2016 budget and levy
1:30 PM at the Hennepin County Government Center
|
