 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/02/2014
Contact: Carolyn Marinan, public affairs, 612-348-5969
News release
County supports C
Line bus rapid transit on Penn Avenue
The board voted to support Metro Transit in advancing design and
engineering of the C Line bus rapid transit route along Penn Avenue (County
Road 2). The route is currently projected to be in service late 2016. A $32
million investment will be made along the 8.4 mile route extending from Target
Field Station in downtown Minneapolis to the Brooklyn Center Transit Station.
The C Line travels along 7th Street, Olson Memorial Boulevard (Highway 55),
Penn Avenue (County Road 2) and Osseo Road/Brooklyn Boulevard (County Road
152). The project includes building transit stations, much like light rail
station platforms, with heated and lighted shelters, security cameras,
real-time transit information and pay-at-the-platform technology. The county
will continue to collaborate with Metro Transit on the planning, engagement and
implementation of this project through the Hennepin County Penn Avenue
Community Works program. Find more information on the project
webpage.
Board votes to
support Minneapolis Promise Zone application
The board voted to support Minneapolis’ Promise Zone Initiative
application. The city is applying to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) to be one of six urban communities designated as a Promise
Zone. Promise Zone cities receive preference for certain competitive federal
programs and technical assistance. The city is applying for a portion of north
Minneapolis. The goals for this area are to reduce racial inequities through
ongoing evaluation of public policies, programs and practices; reduce serious
and violent crime; improve educational opportunities and reduce the achievement
gap; increase economic activity; create jobs; and support stable housing for
all. These are goals that have been supported through county community outreach
efforts and the funding of projects in this area.
County receives grant
for DNA processing
The board approved a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office
of Justice Program to reduce the DNA backlog in the sheriff’s crime lab. The
$100,000 grant will fund one full-time employee and provide training to reduce
the DNA processing backlog. The grant program offers funding to local units of
government to reduce forensic DNA sample turnaround time, increase the output
of public DNA laboratories, and reduce DNA forensic casework backlogs.
Grant helps connect inmates to behavioral
health care
The county
received a $30,000 grant from Minnesota Department of Health for a community
health worker to assist people with behavioral health needs who are in the
Hennepin County Jail and who are likely to return to jail after being released.
Medicaid does not pay for health care or care coordination for incarcerated
people. The community health worker will serve approximately 600 clients during
the first year by helping them find primary care, housing, behavioral health,
social services and employment services. The county will contribute in-kind
funding of $29,428 for salary and benefits.
Signal replacements
at County Road 101 (Sioux Drive) in Medina
The board voted to support the Minnesota Department of Transportation
(MnDOT) in replacing a temporary traffic control signal system at the
intersection of Highway 55 and County Road 101 (Sioux Drive) in Medina. A
permanent signal will reduce maintenance and operational costs and concerns
related to the temporary signal and will improve Highway 55 signal
synchronization. Per MnDOT’s policy, the county share of the project is 25
percent of the construction and engineering costs, or in this case $73,918.55.
MnDOT and the city will be responsible for the operation, maintenance and electrical
power of the new traffic control signal system.
County and Bloomington
partner on traffic signal maintenance
The board renewed a partnership in which the city of Bloomington has
maintained county traffic signals on Old Shakopee Road (County Road 1) for a
number of years. This partnership is mutually beneficial by creating
efficiencies for maintenance and timing of both county and city traffic
signals. It allows Bloomington to continue to maintain, monitor and control
traffic flow within the Airport South Area. The county pays the city $8,800
annually for maintenance of these signals.
County receives
additional $585,000 for workforce development
This year, the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development recommended to the Minnesota Job Skill Partnership Board that
additional allocations be made to workforce service areas experiencing
lingering impacts of reduced Workforce Investment Act funding. Hennepin County,
operating as Workforce Service Area 9, requested and received an additional
$585,000 in funding that will be used for a web-based resource connecting job
seekers and workforce professionals and other related workforce development
programs in the Hennepin-Carver Workforce Service Area. These programs support
workforce development through increased employment, retention and earnings for
job seekers in the area.
Forfeiture fund use
The board
approved amendments to the 2014 budgets for the Hennepin County Attorney’s
Office and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. Both offices receive
forfeiture funds per Minnesota State Statute. The county attorney’s office
received $900,000 in forfeiture funds as a supplement to its operating fund or
similar fund for prosecutorial purposes. The sheriff’s office received $241,394
in 2014. By statute, a modification in the board authorized budget amount must
be approved as part of the appropriation process although the specific use of
forfeiture funds is subject only to the approval of the county attorney and
sheriff.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
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