 For release: June 24, 2014
Contact: Kayla Bromelkamp, Public Affairs, 612-348-8536
News release
Special board meeting
July 8 on Southwest Light Rail Transit
There will be a special board meeting on July 8 at the regularly
scheduled committee meeting. The board will vote to approve or disapprove the
physical design components for the Southwest Light Rail Transit line.
Board approves contracts that will build affordable
housing
The board approved contracts with the cities of Brooklyn
Center and Brooklyn Park for continued foreclosure recovery efforts under the
federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program 3 (NSP3). Each city received previous
NSP3 funds to assist in the acquisition, rehabilitation and resale of
foreclosed properties for low and moderate income households. During the
original contract period, Brooklyn Center helped rehabilitation 12 homes and
Brooklyn Park helped rehabilitate 27 homes. The new agreements provide
additional time to use existing and anticipated program income to support the
rehabilitation of up to 17 additional foreclosed housing units between March
2014 and March 2019.
Board approves Environmental
Response Fund grants
The board approved seven Environmental Response Fund grants
for 2014 that will provide asbsestos and lead-based paint abatement, and
contaminated soil cleanup. These grants provide for the construction of
affordable housing units, significant tax-base increases, new construction jobs
and new permanent jobs. The grants include:
- City of Minneapolis (Miller Bag Building project) - $20,000 for
additional contaminated fill cleanup relating to redevelopment of an
under-utilized industrial property into renovated and new retail, office, and
warehouse space
- City of Minneapolis (MoZaic Phase II project) - $50,151 for contaminated
fill cleanup to assist with the development of a mixed retail/commercial development
- Washburn Center for Children (Minneapolis) - $106,785 for
additional contaminated soil cleanup relating to the development of a
children’s services facility
- Clare Housing (Clare Terrace project in Robbinsdale) -
$20,500 for predemolition asbestos and lead paint abatement to assist with the
development of new affordable housing
- City of Brooklyn Center Economic Development Authority
(former Howe fertilizer site in Brooklyn Center) - $440,400 for soil cleanup to
assist with the construction of a commercial/light industrial development
- Hennepin County Housing, Community Works and Transit (lead
reduction program, countywide) - $150,000 for lead paint abatement at various
residential properties
Board approves immediate
action for bridge repair
Annual inspections show major changes in the northwest
wingwall of the Pleasant Avenue Bridge on the Midtown Greenway. The board
approved the use of expedited contracting to stabilize the northwest wingwall.
In the interim, part of the trail is closed for safety purposes. The contract
amount should not exceed $150,000. The City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County will work together on a plan to fix the bridge.
Reconstruction of
County Road 101 (Bushaway Road) approved
The reconstruction of County Road 101, also known as
Bushaway Road, in Wayzata, Minnetonka and Woodland, was approved by the board.
To move forward on the project, the county will negotiate agreements with the
cities, BNSF Railway, Metropolitan Council, and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed
District. These agreements will set the project budget for the reconstruction
and safety improvements needed for the roadway between Minnetonka Boulevard and
Wayzata Boulevard. The new roadway will also support pedestrian and bicyclist
use.
Board approves maximum levy for watersheds for 2015
The board approved plan amendments and maximum levies for
the Bassett Creek Watershed, Shingle Creek Watershed and the West Mississippi
Watershed. The maximum levy for the Shingle Creek Watershed Management
Commission will be set at $260,000 and funds will be used toward the Plymouth
Bass Lake Pond Project to reduce pollutant loads to Bass Lake and other water
quality improvement projects. The West Mississippi Watershed Management
Commission levy will be set at $50,000 for water quality improvement projects.
The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission levy will be set at $1
million and the funds will be used for the 2015 Bassett Creek Main Stem
Restoration Project. These levies will be included in the Truth in Taxation
Statement.
Commissioner Greene
to chair health and human services committee
Commissioner Marion Greene was appointed by the board to chair
the health and human services committee. Commissioner Greene holds an MBA from
the University of Texas, and spent nearly ten years as a health care policy
analyst.
Public hearing July
22 on five-year capital improvement program
There will be a public hearing during the Budget and Capital
Investment Committee meeting on July 22, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. on the proposal to
issue general obligation bonds of the county for financing new capital
improvements in the county’s five-year capital improvement program.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
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