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Jan Callison
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Dave Nuckols
Principal Aide
612-348-6885
Cassi Holmstrom Administrative Assistant & Scheduling
612-348-3168
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent part of Chanhassen, Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
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Understanding your property tax
Applicants are sought for two vacancies on the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board due to the expiration of terms of office. This board coordinates the management of water and related land resources in the watershed, The cities of Hopkins, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eden Prairie and Minnetonka have land within the district.
The deadline for applications is August 29 with interviews to be held at the following board committee meeting on September 10.
To apply online, click here.
2013 DIGITAL COUNTIES SURVEY WINNERS CHOSEN
 Hennepin County took second place in the 500,000 or more population category.
The annual survey is conducted by the Center for Digital Government in conjunction with the National Association of Counties.
Annual polling results show how county governments are using digital technologies to serve their citizens and streamline operations.
Survey questions were asked in a variety of areas such as computing, networking, applications, data and cybersecurity, open government, mobile services, and much more.
Congratulations to Hennepin County Employees for their dedication and resourcefulness.
DECONSTRUCTION SERVICES PROVIDED BY BETTER FUTURES ENTERPRISES
 Remodeling or Demolishing?
Let Better Futures Minnesota recycle your building and reduce your project costs. For private owners, deconstruction is typically less expensive than demolition since the donation of building materials to Better Futures may result in a tax deduction.
Better Futures Minnesota reduces project costs, preserves natural resources, and creates jobs.
They have saved hundreds of tons of material from going to landfills and have a 92–97% recycling rate.
For a free deconstruction estimate please contact Tim Hanson at thanson@betterfutures.net 612-718-6089.
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Greetings,
I hope you are enjoying my electronic newsletters, and find them interesting and informative about county activities. 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
July 16, 2013
New Wheelage Tax Approved
 The Board approved a $10 per vehicle wheelage tax - effective January 31, 2014 - to help fund a back log of improvements to the county’s transportation system.
Hennepin is one of the last of seven metro counties to levy this tax. Originally created by the Legislature in 1971 as the Metropolitan County Wheelage Tax, Hennepin County hasn't collected the tax since 1974 relying instead on the property tax for funding. This year, the Legislature amended that statute to allow all 87 counties to collect a $10 per vehicle fee.
Our Director of Transportation, James Grube, provided a list of projects that over the next five years will improve our low "Ride Rating" for concrete and asphalt roads as well as modernization and efficiency items such as replacing outmoded traffic lights, synchronizing traffic signals, converting incandescent lights to LED lights, and installing battery backups for a number of traffic signals so they remain operational when normal power is lost.
For the next four years, $2 million of the fees collected will be dedicated to paying the debt service for road and bridge construction bonds while providing property tax relief for taxpayers.
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NRICH Grant Agreements Approved
 The Board authorized the County Administrator to negotiate seven grant agreements for the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) that preserve critical habitat, and protect and improve water quality by reducing nutrient loads.
These grants will help establish 31 rain gardens, 210 feet of stream bank stabilization, a bio-filtration basin, 20 to 40 acres of pervious pavement and one iron filtration pond outlet system.
Established in 2005, the Natural Resources Incentives for Critical Habitat (NRICH) program provides financial and technical assistance to landowners and local governments.
The grants will leverage $416,775 in Clean Water Legacy Fund grants and $189,863 from local in-kind and cash match.
Volunteer Appointed to Human Resources Board
The Board appointed Janet Thomas-Bouyer of Minneapolis to the Human Resources Board. This seven-member board establishes rules for the county's classified workers and provides a compensation plan for non-organized employees, subject to approval by the County Board.
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners appoints citizens and local officials to serve on a variety of advisory boards, task forces and committees through an open appointments process. For information about Hennepin County Advisory Boards, click here.
Agendas and actions taken by the Hennepin County Board, including a record of how individual commissioners voted, are posted under Hennepin County Meetings and Agendas. For greater detail on these agenda items and additional board actions, visit County Board Action
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 Boardroom on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.
July 11, 2013
- David Thornton, Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, briefed the Board on the “Sources and Consequences of Minnesota’s Air Pollution.” He reported on current federal air quality standards and the potential that some may be tightened, highlighted trends in ozone levels and particulate emissions, and observed that the metro area may become a non-attainment area. According to him, consequences of non-attainment include “more permitting, more red tape, adverse health impacts and economic impacts of up to $240 M per year.” He concluded with thoughts on steps that might be taken to have an impact on emissions, such as diesel generator reductions, wood smoke reductions and increasing urban forestry.
July 25, 2013
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Dependency Reduction Project—Representatives of the Northside Community Response Team are proposing an initiative to reduce “the level of dependency on public assistance in north Minneapolis by 25% over the next five years.” Partners include EMERGE, Turning Point, Minneapolis Urban league, Hope United CDC, North Point, Summit Academy OIC and Community Standards Initiative. The proposed pilot would focus on job readiness and employment barriers for 75 families, and would measure outcomes in terms of percent of participants placed in employment, job retention and average hourly wage.
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Service Centers—Staff reported on accomplishments as well as on-going challenges at the county service centers. Accomplishments include a reduction in wait times in 2014 from 45-50 minutes to 30. Challenges include federal regulations relating to the issuance of passports which require us to either “physically separate” passport services from other services or cease issuing passports. Other topics included the possibility of ceasing weekend service and restricting which service centers issue birth and death records.
 Ground Breaking Ceremony
What: Hennepin County Library - Excelsior
When: Wednesday, August 12, 2013 at 2 p.m.
Where: Build site at 337 Water Street, Excelsior
The new library, replacing the one that has served area residents since 1965, will nearly double the public space and include a multi-purpose room for library programs and community meetings, a refreshed collection and comfortable reading areas.
Work will begin this month and finish by September 2014.
Parking is available in the Excelsior Elementary School lot, Excelsior City Hall lot, and in the public Park and Ride lot.
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