County Board actions: Elections upgrades, expanded mental health crisis services

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969

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County Board actions

On Tuesday, the board voted to move ahead with elections upgrades, expanded mental health crisis services, appointed an acting administrator for Public Works and accepted a grant for a new dental clinic at HCMC.

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Elections equipment, office upgrades move forward with e-poll books, space to process absentee ballots

The County Board approved a $4.5 million contract with KNOWiNK Election Software. The plan to replace paper voter rosters with electronic poll books will provide increased consistency and efficiencies and will provide critical communication on Election Day, essential to the managing and processing absentee ballots in a timely manner. Secure, wireless communication will allow Hennepin County to update polling place rosters with the most current absentee ballot status information without interrupting or delaying operations in the polling place.

In a separate action, the board also approved the schematic design for new Elections office space at 701 South 4th Avenue, Minneapolis. This project includes design, construction and furnishings needed to renovate the 18th floor to meet the new requirements of expanded absentee ballot processing tasks during election seasons, and to serve as multipurpose flex work and conference space for countywide use at other times. 

Learn more about the e-poll book initiative.

Learn more about plans for new Elections offices.

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Grant will expand mobile mental health crisis services

The County Board accepted a grant of nearly $743,000 from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to continue and expand the county’s mobile mental health crisis services for adult and children. The allocation replaces the Children’s Crisis and West Metro Adult Crisis grants, and includes a $340,321 increase over the 2015 allocation. The program will add two full-time equivalent positions to improve coverage and make other improvements to address access, timeliness and cultural competence.

Learn more about the grant.

Learn more about Hennepin County’s mobile mental health crisis services.

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Michaud appointed as acting Public Works administrator

The board appointed Carl Michaud acting assistant county administrator of Public Works. He fills the position recently held by Debra Brisk, who resigned the position last month. For many years, Carl has led the Environmental Services department and has a keen understanding of this work as well as the departments in Public Works.  This acting appointment is effective immediately.

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Delta Dental grant will fund new dental clinic at HCMC

A $4.6 million grant will fund the Delta Dental Oral Health Center at HCMC, to be located in the hospital's new $220.8 million clinic and specialty building. The grant will also fund in-clinic dental services for the highly complex patients who receive care in the HCMC Coordinated Care Clinic. The clinic  will see and treat the 85 percent of HCMC’s dental patients who are covered by public programs, are uninsured, or qualify as low-income residents. In addition, the clinic will provide enhanced patient-centered care for all patients, especially children and people with special needs. The Delta Dental Oral Health Center at HCMC will increase oral health care access by approximately 60 percent, to reach 27,500 patient visits a year.

For more information, read the full news release.  

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Advisory board appointments

Capitol Budgeting Task Force:

The board appointed two at-large members.

  • Ying Vu
  • Larry Blackstad

Library Board

The board selected two alt-large members. One more will be appointed at the next meeting. 

  • Jonathan Gaw
  • Caitlin Cahil (incumbent)

Learn more about opportunities to get involved in Hennepin County citizen advisory boards. 

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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.