 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2014
Contact: Kayla Bromelkamp, public affairs, 612-348-8536
News release
Hennepin Technical
College to provide food safety training at Adult Corrections Facility
The board approved the Hennepin Technical College to provide training for kitchen
workers at the Adult Correctional Facility (ACF). Residents at the ACF are encouraged
to participate in both educational and employment activities during their
incarceration. One of the employment opportunities is working in the kitchen to
prepare meals for the ACF, Juvenile Detention Center and the County Home
School. The kitchen prepares approximately 48,000 meals per month. To ensure
safety of workers and the food they are serving, workers are required to be trained
by Hennepin Technical College. This provides work skills that can be used
during and after incarceration. Workers are paid a stipend for their work and
up to 50 percent of the money earned is used to pay fines, child support,
restitution and fees related to their incarceration.
County to purchase
additional automated external defibrillators
The board approved the purchase of additional automated external
defibrillators (AEDs) for county facilities. There are currently 71 AEDs at 46
county facilities and the county will invest $60,000 to acquire an additional 31 AEDs
and to replace outdated devices.
Speed limit reduced
for bicyclist and motorist safety on Portland Avenue in Minneapolis
The board approved reducing the speed limit to 30 mph from 35 mph on
Portland Avenue (County Road 35) between 60th Street East and 46th
Street East in Minneapolis. The reduction will provide speed limit continuity
along the Portland Avenue corridor and provide safer
conditions for both bicyclists and motorists.
Public hearing on housing programs
There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, September 9 at 1:30 p.m.
regarding federal housing programs in suburban Hennepin County. The hearing
will specifically address the 2013 Consolidated Annual Performance and
Evaluation Report (CAPER) related to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships and Emergency
Solutions Grant programs. Participation in these programs requires the county
to submit an annual performance and evaluation report.
Board approves
agreement to provide permanent housing options
The board, acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment
Authority, approved an agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for the oversight of the rental assistance program from
October 1, 2014 through December 31, 2015. The county will receive $1,076,772
for programs to provide long-term housing options, moving people from
temporary housing shelters to permanent housing options.
Board approves funding for affordable housing
The board, acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment
Authority, approved the consolidation of two Affordable Housing Incentive
commitments to be used for Phase IV of the Franklin Portland Gateway affordable
housing project. Phase IV includes an existing 30-unit affordable apartment
building and will include 90 new construction rental units, 47 of which will be
affordable to households at or below 50 percent of area median income. Consolidating the loans extends the affordability period of 30 existing units of rental
housing for an additional 23 years. The loans of $100,000 and $315,000 will be combined
and extended to Aeon, a nonprofit affordable housing developer, for Phase IV of
the project.
Station area planning
for METRO Blue Line extension to move forward
The board, acting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority,
approved a contract for phase two of station area planning for the proposed METRO Blue Line
extension (Bottineau light rail transit line). Station area plans address the ways that land surrounding
stations can help optimize use of the line. Station area planning
will occur in two phases. Phase one is underway for stations in
Minneapolis and Golden Valley; phase two will soon begin for stations in
Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park. Perkins+Will, Inc. was selected as the
contractor through a competitive request-for-proposal process for the stations located in Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn
Park. The proposed line will span approximately 13 miles from downtown
Minneapolis to the northwest, with stations in Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal
and Brooklyn Park.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
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