 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/18/2014
Contact: Carolyn Marinan, public affairs, 612-348-5969
News release
County recycles more than 554,000 gallons of household hazardous wastes
Through the county’s household hazardous waste collection program residents can drop off household hazardous wastes (HHW) such as chemicals and paint, as well as problem materials such as appliances, electronics and tires. Residents can bring these materials to two facilities, located in Bloomington and Brooklyn Park or at special collection events held in various municipalities. BFI Waste Systems provides staffing and supplies and materials to prepare and package waste for shipment to recycling or disposal facilities. The board renewed the agreement with BFI Waste Systems of North America to provide these services through 2019 at a cost not to exceed $11 million. The board also amended a contract with Materials Processing Corporation to recycle electronics at with an estimated annual cost of $500,000. In 2013, BFI served 113,000 residents at the facilities and event collections. The HHW and problem materials programs have been very successful, collecting 554,000 gallons of HHW and over 4,700 tons of problem materials in 2013.
Board calls on congress to fund the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program
The board called on congress to fully fund the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program for federal fiscal year 2015. The program facilitates collaboration and partnership at the federal, state and community levels to improve the health of at-risk children through evidence-based home visiting programs. MIECHV also supports pregnant women and families and helps parents of children from birth to age 5 access resources and develop skills they need to raise children who are physically, socially and emotionally healthy and ready to learn. A 2005 RAND Corporation study found that for every dollar local governments invest in evidence-based home visiting programs, they save as much as $5.70 in reduced educational and supportive services costs. The county’s targeted home visiting program has provided screenings to more than 72 high-risk children and made referrals for additional services for more than 40 families in the program's first five months of operation. Federal funding will help supplement Hennepin County's program investment in expanding the number of screening sites and community partnerships to better serve at-risk children.
County receives state aid to fight aquatic invasive species
The county will receive an estimated $471,500 from the state to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). The county will use the funds to provide grants to cities, watersheds, park districts and lake associations, improve education at lake access points, train volunteers to be early detectors, deploy rapid response protocols and enhance enforcement of AIS laws.
County to receive funding for housing improvements
The county will receive $120,000 over the next three years to administer Minnesota Department of Health Healthy Homes grants. This grant will provide $40,000 a year to continue providing home assessments for health and safety hazards and provide supplies to address hazards like asthma triggers or trips and falls. Homes with additional needs may be eligible for funding from a $61,200 healthy homes grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. The county will also receive a $101,250 grant from Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to assist in constructing up to 25 modular ramps and/or low-rise steps for low- and moderate-income homeowners.
Board approved 2015 special levies for watershed management commissions
Bassett Creek, Shingle Creek, West Mississippi and Elm Creek watershed management commissions requested special levies for water quality improvement projects in their districts. The special levies will fund projects that to improve the water quality and stream habitat of Bassett Creek; improve the water quality of Bass Lake, Elm Creek, and the Mississippi River; and support BMP cost-share projects to improve the quality of water resources in the Shingle Creek and West Mississippi watersheds.
The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission requested a special levy of $1 million to restore 1.8 miles of the main stem of the creek to improve water quality and stream habitat. The Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission requested a special levy of $260,000 for a water quality project in Plymouth and to support small cost-share projects throughout the watershed. The West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission requested $50,000 to support a cost-share program, which will implement small water quality projects throughout the watershed. The Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission has requested a special levy of $131,250 for two water quality improvement projects: one in Medina, to reduce sediment in Elm Creek and another in Champlin to restore the stream edge below Mill Pond Dam.
Hennepin Healthcare Systems to merge with MVNA
Hennepin Healthcare Systems, Inc. (HHS) will add MVNA (formerly Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency) as a subsidiary. MVNA has been providing in-home nursing services in the county since 1902 and currently receives referrals for patients leaving Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) to continue their recovery in their homes. HHS believes that the addition of these services will better position HHS to help patients manage their health care needs in their homes and in the community, thus reducing patients’ reliance on the acute care services of HCMC. This should result in better outcomes for patients and make HHS more competitive in the emerging market for total cost-of-care contracts. The board has final approval over HHS adding a subsidiary. The HHS board of directors approved an integration agreement with MVNA in October. Read more on the HCMC news blog.
County to share cost of bridge and pedestrian improvements with Brooklyn Center, St. Anthony and Golden Valley
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has prepared a project to re-deck and construct improvements to the Brooklyn Boulevard Bridge (County Road 152) over Highway 100 in Brooklyn Center. This city and MnDOT worked together on aesthetic improvements to the bridge. The city will pay MnDOT $76,310 for these improvements and the county will reimburse the city 33 percent of the cost (estimated at $25,400).
In St. Anthony, the city is improving pedestrian safety at the intersection of Kenzie Terrace (County Road 153) and Pentagon Drive. The project includes the installation of bidirectional in-pavement light-emitting diodes (LEDs), push-button activation stations, and blinking pedestrian crossing signs designed to warn approaching motorists that the intersection is occupied or about to be occupied by pedestrians. The county will reimburse the city for 50 percent of the construction costs not to exceed $50,000. Maintenance will be handled by the city.
The county is also working with Golden Valley on the construction of pedestrian ramps and accessible pedestrian signals along Winnetka Avenue (County Road 156). The city is replacing 22 pedestrian ramps and accessible pedestrian signals (APS) along Winnetka Avenue between 10th Avenue North and Golden Valley Road/7th Avenue North as part of the city’s sidewalk reconstruction project. The new pedestrian ramps will provide improved accessibility and conform to the current guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The county will reimburse the city for 50 percent of the costs up to $126,500.
Development planned at Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street East in Minneapolis
The board approved the transfer of $54.5 million to the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA) for the acquisition, development and construction of the South Minneapolis Regional Human Services Center at Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street East. The majority of the property is currently owned by Minneapolis Public Schools. The construction of the building and parking facility is part of a plan to strategically place human services centers thereby improving access to services for county residents. An additional request for land acquisition, land sales and leasing of property was approved by the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Property sold to Community Involvement Programs
The board, acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA), authorized the sale of 3849 Oakland Avenue South and 5337 30th Avenue South in Minneapolis for a total of $465,165.25 to Community Involvement Programs, a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of services for individuals with intellectual/development disability and/or serious persistent mental illness. The properties are currently leased to nonprofits by the county and are currently used for adult foster care and as affordable housing with services. The sale of these properties to Community Involvement Programs returns the properties to the tax roll and allows the nonprofit to continue to offer services at these locations. These were tax-forfeited properties that were being managed and maintained by the county. The purchase and sale by the HCHRA were approved by the Minneapolis City Council.
Public hearing on Dec. 16 on the issuance of bonds on behalf of Ebenezer York Assisted Living, LLC
The board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 16 at 1:30 p.m. regarding the issuance of bonds on behalf of Ebenezer York Assisted Living, LLC and Ebenezer Society. The bond request is to refinance original revenue obligations from 2009 for the York Gardens Assisted Living Facility. Reissuing the bonds would allow York Gardens Assisted Living Facility to refinance at a lower interest rate. York Gardens Assisted Living Facility has 47 assisted living units, 15 memory-care units and 14 “assisted living plus” units all restricted to people aged 55 and over.
Board appoints Commissioner Jan Callison to Southwest Light Rail Transit Executive Change Control Board
The board, acting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, appointed Commissioner Jan Callison to serve on the Southwest Light Rail Transit Executive Change Control Board and Commissioner Marion Greene as an alternate. As a member of this board, Commissioner Callison will be responsible for approving all change orders, project requirements, contracts and contract cost increases of $250,000 or more, as well as changes to the project schedule that will delay the revenue service date. They will also approve the use of contingency funds for all scope deferrals and Locally Requested Capital Investments costing $75,000 or more and review, at regular intervals, all change orders less than $250,000.
Commissioners proclaim Safe Sleep Week
The board proclaimed November 16-22 Safe Sleep Week. The proclamation is part of a state-wide effort dedicated to the well-being of children. One of the leading factors in infant deaths in Minnesota is unsafe sleep practices which can cause infants to suffocate in bed. These deaths are nearly always preventable. Parents, families, child-care providers and hospitals can employ safe sleep practices by putting infants to sleep on their backs in a safety-approved crib that is free of blankets, pillows, bumper pads, stuffed animals and toys and is in a smoke-free environment.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
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