News release: county board actions for March 25, 2014

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For release: March 25, 2014

Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Public Affairs, 612-348-5969

News release

County board actions for March 25

Board approves plan to fight sexual exploitation of youth in the county

The county board approved a plan to end the sexual exploitation of youth in Hennepin County. The Hennepin County No Wrong Door plan was developed over the past year by a cross-departmental county workgroup, with the goal of creating a seamless county-wide response to identify youth being trafficked, find them a safe place to stay, and connect them to appropriate victim-centered and trauma-informed services. The Hennepin County Plan aligns with the state’s No Wrong Door plan.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that 100,000 children are sexually exploited in the United States each year. A recent study found that each month in Minnesota at least 213 girls are sold for sex over the internet and through escort services an average of five times per day. The FBI has identified Minneapolis as one of 13 cities with a large concentration of juvenile sex trafficking enterprises. For more information read the news release

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Youth Sports grants awarded

The board awarded $124,956 in spring 2014 Hennepin Youth Sports Program grants. The grantees include: 

  • City of Bloomington for lacrosse goals for use at various locations for $1,750
  • City of Bloomington for dugouts, outfield fence, water pumps, chalkers and pitching rubbers at Dred Scott Playfield for $3,500
  • City of Eden Prairie for archery equipment at Staring Lake Archery Range for $6,374
  • City of New Hope for gymnastics equipment at Sandburg Learning Center for $5,659
  • City of Richfield for soccer goals at Donaldson Park for $7,500
  • City of Robbinsdale for a pitching mound, scoreboard skins, batting tees, dugout organizer and equipment bags for $6,475
  • Hopkins ISD 270 for the replacement of three basketball courts at Eisenhower, Alice Smith and Glen Lake Schools for $7,750
  • Minneapolis Public Schools for two basketball courts, blacktop and standards at Lincoln School for $10,000
  • Minneapolis Public Schools for two glass backboards at Roosevelt High School for $1,440
  • Minnetonka ISD 276 for playground equipment at Clear Springs Elementary for $10,000
  • Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board for a blocking sled, dummies and shields and soccer goals at Folwell Park for $6,500
  • Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board for a cargo net at Jim Lupient waterpark for $7,000
  • Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board for soccer goals and nets at Kenny and Armatage parks for $4,800
  • Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board for a volleyball net system at Nokomis Park for $3,775
  • Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board for gym scoreboards at Brian Coyle Center for $10,000
  • Robbinsdale ISD 181 for fencing for varsity softball field at Robbinsdale Cooper High School for $5,625
  • Robbinsdale ISD 181 for a utility vehicle to be used at the Robbinsdale Cooper High School and the New Hope Learning Center for $7,108
  • Saint Louis Park ISD 283 for two sets of volleyball standards, pads and nets at Peter Hobart and Aquila elementary schools for $10,000
  • Westonka Schools ISD 277 for ag lime, sod and installation labor at Wolner field for $9,700

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Bottineau Transitway public hearings

The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority Board authorized staff to schedule public hearings about the Bottineau Transitway project draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). The DEIS process began in April 2011 and is led the by Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) as the local lead agency and has been under review by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). FTA has asked for the HCRRA to proceed to the public comment period where individuals and agencies will have the opportunity to provide input on the DEIS.

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Cooperative agreement for stockpile of emergency supplies

The board approved a cooperative agreement that will include Metropolitan Airports Commission, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties, and the cities of Bloomington and Minneapolis to establish a Strategic National Stockpile Regional Distribution Node through April 30, 2017. This meets federal law requirements for regional stockpiles of drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical devices and other supplies in the event of a bioterrorist attack or public health emergency. Under the agreement, the Metropolitan Airport Commission will maintain a primary facility and back-up to be used as Regional Distribution Node upon a state declared emergency and be up and running within 14 hours for use by the counties and cities listed in the agreement. This is a continuation of a previous agreement.

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Library and 3M develop e-book collection

The board approved an agreement between Hennepin County Libraries and 3M to provide e-book services to patrons from March 25, 2014, through March 24, 2017. The contract is not to exceed $1.5 million. It will take the library about three to four months to have titles available to the general public. 

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Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity hires Sentencing to Service Homes crews

The board approved an agreement with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to hire Sentencing to Service Homes program participants to assist in rehabilitation and new home construction. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity provides all materials and obtains the necessary permits. The agreement is effective April 1, 2014, through March 31, 2015. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity agreed to pay Hennepin County $158,400 for the services provided. The programs have partnered since May 2008.

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Improvements to Shady Oak Road in Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie

The board approved the reconstruction of Shady Oak Road (County Road 61) in Hopkins and Minnetonka from Excelsior Boulevard (County Road 3) to north of Highway 7. In addition to reconstruction of the road, the project includes grading, paving, storm sewer, curb and gutter, retaining wall, trail construction and traffic signal replacement. The total cost of the project is $26.29 million and costs are shared by the county, cities and Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The board also approved an agreement with the City of Eden Prairie for the reconstruction of Shady Oak Road (County Road 61) from south of Highway 212 to north of Rowland Road. The county cost for the project is not to exceed $5 million. 

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Continue MFIP Innovations grant

The board approved an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to accept a Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) Innovations grant for the Workforce Investment Network pilot. The pilot is enrolling up to 75 MFIP adults to test the efficacy of sector-based, career-path workforce development strategies to provide improved outcomes for recipients in North Minneapolis. The grant amount is $250,000 and supplements county and other funding for the pilot. 

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Hennepin County Bar Association to provide legal counsel

The board approved an agreement with the Hennepin County Bar Association to provide legal counsel for indigent respondents in Hennepin County Mental Health Court. The agreement is for services provided from April 1, 2014, through March 31, 2016. The contract is not to exceed $2.38 million. 

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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.