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Jan Callison
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Dave Nuckols
Principal Aide
612-348-6885
Cassi Holmstrom Administrative Assistant & Scheduling
612-348-3168
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, northern Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
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BOARD APPOINTS
DAVID HOUGH ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
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The County Board appointed Deputy County Administrator David Hough to serve as acting county administrator, effective Dec. 29, due to the retirement of County Administrator Richard Johnson. The county is conducting an executive search to fill the position.
Hough has served as deputy county administrator since 2008. Before that appointment, he was a deputy county attorney in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office where he served as the board’s chief legal counsel as well as representing the county in both civil and criminal matters.
HENNEPIN COUNTY AGING INITIATIVE
Increased longevity, the large Baby Boomer population and declining birth rates are producing a unique shift in the age structure of the population. This unprecedented shift is happening at all geographic levels and is anticipated to have wide-reaching effects - especially as the changes occur against a backdrop of rapid technological change, uncertainties in the broader economy, climate change, cultural changes between generations, and shrinking government resources. Hennepin County is working to understand how these changing age demographics will affect the county as a service provider, as a geographic and economic region and as a local government agency.
Through reviews of recent research, analysis of current local data and focus groups with county residents, the Hennepin County Aging Initiative aims to help county leaders and stakeholders understand these changes and respond with effective public policy. The Hennepin County Research, Planning and Development Department has created this page to share information compiled by its research analysts and to provide links to valuable information about this important change in our population. Research findings are available here.
GUTHRIE THEATER WILL PRESENT FREE WORKSHOPS AT HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARIES
 Wish there was more “drama” in your life? The Guthrie Theater is collaborating with the Hennepin County LIbrary to present free theatre workshops for children, teens, and adults at several libraries. The workshops will teach basic theatre techniques and some will also enhance participants’ communication skills.
Workshops for kids are “Playmaking” and “Storymaking.” Teen workshops are “Duke It Out,” “Acting Games for Beginners” and “Intro to Physical Comedy.” Workshops for adults are “Intro to Shakespeare,” “Intro to Tap,” “Be Heard,” “History of Theater” and “Acting Games for Beginners.”
The workshops, which are funded by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, run through Feb. 25. Visit the Hennepin County Library events page for dates and classes offered.
Registration is required.
HENNEPIN COUNTY ADDS NEW ANTI-ICING ROUTES
 Before the snow arrives, anti-icing measures are used to help prevent the bond between ice and the roadway from forming. Anti-icing is a two-night-long process involving two 2,500-gallon tanker trucks that are deployed when conditions favor the formation of ice.
Five new anti-icing routes have been added to Hennepin County’s snow maintenance operations. Portions of Lowry, Park, Portland and Cedar avenues, as well as Noble Parkway, bring the county’s total number of anti-icing lane miles to 646.
The anti-icing system on the new Lowry Avenue Bridge is expected to be operational in early 2013. The system is capable of proactive treatment of the bridge deck. Potassium acetate will be used exclusively on this structure to promote a longer life and environmental stewardship.
Making the roadways safe during and after a snow event is another two-step process. First, snow must be plowed off the road; second, the remaining ice must be removed. During the recent Dec. 8 storm, and in the following days, the county used more than 5.5 million pounds of rock salt and more than 12,000 gallons of brine. The county uses approximately 17,000 tons of salt and 7,500 tons of treated salt annually. It takes approximately one pound of salt to melt 46.3 pounds of ice. Controls calibrated every fall ensure that county snowplows use only the material that is necessary in response to snow- and ice-related events.
The county has a total of 65 pre-set snow maintenance routes, covering its 2,100 lane miles and 146 bridges. On average, there are 48 emergency “call outs” each snow season.
Snowplows generally hit the roads at 2 a.m. after snow starts falling the previous evening. The objective is to complete a pass over all lanes and intersections prior to morning rush hour. Approximately 74 pieces of equipment are available to accomplish this work including plows, motor graders, front-end loaders, and snow blowers.
County snowplow operations are based out of five satellite truck stations strategically located throughout the county: Bloomington, Medina, Minnetonka, Orono and Osseo.
Safety Around Snowplows is Essential.
Drivers should not attempt passing a moving snowplow in operation, and should be especially wary of turning movements snowplows make at turn lanes and intersections.
Transportation Department snowplow operators maintain commercial driver’s licenses and regularly complete driver safety courses in evasive maneuvers, plowing and winging equipment, and winter operations training.
The county’s Public Works Facility is located at 1600 Prairie Drive, Medina (seven miles west of Interstate 494 on State Highway 55).
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Greetings,
I hope you are enjoying my electronic newsletters, and find them interesting and informative about county activities. Please feel free to send me your comments through my feedback form on issues that concern you or you would like covered. I value your opinions.
Warm regards,
Jan Callison
December 11, 2012
Hennepin County Budget Calls for .93 Percent Increase in Net Property Tax Levy
 The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved a 2013 county budget of $1.78 billion – a 2.85-percent increase over the 2012 budget, and a .93-percent increase in the net property tax levy over 2012.
Hennepin County Board Chair Mike Opat said,“Hennepin County residents can be proud of this budget. It protects core services, continues innovations in health care delivery, and makes investments in important public infrastructure. We have dealt with significant challenges, held the line on property taxes and kept the county a model for financial stability.”
Approximately 36.9 percent of the county’s annual budget is supported by property taxes; the remainder comes from federal and state dollars, fees for services, and other sources.
Hennepin has maintained a top triple-A credit rating from all three rating agencies for 37 years. The top rating reflects strong county management overall, as well as sound financial condition.
Click here to view a pdf of the 2013 budget.
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HHS/HCMC 2013 Budget Approved
The Board, which has certain reserved powers over Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS), Inc. – the public corporation that oversees operational governance of Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) – approved the 2013 HHS/HCMC budget of $774.4 million.
A few highlights of the budget include:
- This is the first year in which activities of Hennepin Faculty Associates (HFA – the private nonprofit physician practice contracted to provide most of the physicians to HCMC, which merged with HHS Jan. 1,2012) were fully integrated into HHS.
- Because 45 percent of HCMC patients are enrolled in state programs, HHS revenue historically doesn’t keep pace with expense inflation.
- The budget includes funding and support for key 2013 priorities critical to continued growth in the number of patients and improvements in quality and patient safety, including improving patient access to all clinics and improved efficiencies in patient care.
- Revenue in 2013 is expected to increase by 8.1 percent. But given the high dependence on governmental funding and external pressures, that revenue stream has a high degree of risk.
- The budget includes $24 million in revenue from the county for uncompensated care, which has increased primarily because of state changes in Emergency Medical Assistance.
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Contract Approved for 911 Emergency Communications Facility
The Board approved a $21.6-million contract award to Stahl Construction for construction of the new Hennepin County 911 Emergency Communications Facility on the Adult Corrections Facility (ACF) campus in Plymouth.
The new 911 facility will address space, program and facility shortfalls at the existing facility in Golden Valley, which was built in 1948. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has provided a countywide public radio communications system and dispatch of police, fire and emergency medical service calls for the past 70 years.
Total projected budget for the new facility is $33.7 million. The facility will significantly increase communications system reliability, improve operational efficiencies and optimize operating expenses by collocating three principal functions – the 911 Public Safety Answering Point, Critical Infrastructure Radio and Data Network Center, and Radio Systems Operations and Technical Services.
The new 59,200-square-foot facility will accommodate all of the Sheriff’s communication units, as well as facilities to support 911, providing 21 dispatch consoles, with a maximum capacity for 30 consoles. The facility will include a 9,500-square-foot radio installation and electronic mobile equipment storage garage. The site will maximize the use of an existing communication tower on the ACF site.
The facility is expected to be completed in late 2014.
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Public Safety Dispatch Services Approved for Golden Valley when 911 New Facility Opens
The Board authorized public safety dispatch services for the City of Golden Valley, to be effective when the new 911 facility opens in late 2014.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office currently provides safety dispatch services for 23 law enforcement agencies and 19 fire departments. The services are funded by countywide property taxes. Golden Valley is the only city in Hennepin without its own Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that is not dispatched by Hennepin.
Golden Valley is currently under contract with Edina for dispatch services, and is required to give a 12-month notice of intent to terminate.
Funding Reserved for Recommendations from Service Center Study
The Board directed that $250,000 in contingency funding be placed in reserve for the Service Center Division for additional staff and other improvements that may be recommended in a study underway to improve service and reduce wait times at the county’s six service centers. Release of the funds will require making a business case for the need in 2013 once service evaluations are completed.
The county’s Eden Prairie Service Center closed last January, and cuts in staff in the past year have increased wait times at the service centers. Additional staff were hired on a temporary basis last fall at the Brookdale, Southdale and Ridgedale centers.
New mandates from the federal government, including proposed legislation in 2013, on issuance of passports and other issues are changing the way the service centers do business.
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Ecologically Significant Area to Be Preserved In Greenfield
The Board approved an agreement with the Minnesota Land Trust to add and co-hold a conservation easement for a 21.4-acre property on the Crow River in the City of Greenfield. The agreement includes funding up to $21,500 for appraisal and stewardship fees and other costs associated with acquiring the easement.
The property is located within a high-priority natural resource corridor that contains ecologically significant natural areas, including a very rare old-growth oak savanna, floodplain forest and wetlands that are important habitats for a variety of wildlife species. This portion of the Crow River is a state-designated Wild and Scenic River. The easement prohibits activities that would significantly impair or interfere with existing natural resources and critical habitat for plants and animals provided by this site.
Potential future uses for the site include a public park, trails and canoe landing.
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To read about all County Board Actions on December 11, 2012 click here. For more information about these news items, call Carolyn Marinan: 612-348-5969, or Carol Allis: 612-348-8536.
In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the Board often meets on Thursday mornings to receive "Board Briefings." These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made. Board Briefings occur in the Boardroom on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.
There were no Board Briefings in December.
January 8, 2013
On Tuesday, January 8, at 1:30 p.m. Commissioners Higgins, J. Johnson, R. Johnson, Opat and I will take the Oath of Office.
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