Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

County board actions

The Hennepin County Board passed a resolution to protect bees and other pollinators, to work with a restructured community action program and to accept funds to continue health care initiative for people experiencing homelessness.

Public works directive will protect pollinators 

The board approved a resolution directing the Public Works Department to protect and expand pollinator-friendly habitat, by limiting the use of systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, on county-owned property and requiring that new plants and trees installed on county-owned property are free of the pesticide. As part of the resolution, members of the board also encourage county residents, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to implement pollinator-friendly best practices on their properties. 

Read more about the resolution to protect pollinators.

Agreement seals deal for summer farmer's market at Government Center

The County Board approved an agreement with the Central Minnesota Vegetables Growers Association and the Downtown Council to relocate the Thursday downtown Minneapolis Farmer’s Market to the South Plaza of the Government Center. Construction in 2015 relocated the Thursday Farmers Market to Hennepin Avenue. The market will augment efforts to bring downtown workers and commuters to Government Center events over the lunch hour, which will include Summer on the Plaza music, a new Little Free Library, and on Wednesdays lawn games and food vendors.

 The Farmers Market will kick off Thursday, May 5 and will be open each Thursday from 6 am to 6 pm through the outdoor Farmers Market season ending November 10.

Learn more about the summer farmer's market on the South Plaza.

Board approves new structure for suburban community action group

The Hennepin County Board voted to approve the amended articles of incorporation for Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin County. CAPSH approved the amended articles last year. The community action agency works across suburban Hennepin County to improve the lives of low-income people.  Late last year, CAPSH was designated by the Minneapolis City Council as the community action agency in the city of Minneapolis. Based on this change, CAPSH will seek administrative approval of the designation by the Minnesota Department of Human Services as the community action agency for the City of Minneapolis.

Read more about the changes to Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin County. 

Federal grant will fund clinics' work at homeless shelters

The county board voted to accept a $5.4 million grant from the federal Health Resources Administration to continue the Hennepin County Health Care for the Homeless. The board also approved an additional appropriation of $352,574 to increase staffing. The Public Health program, which operates clinics in nine homeless shelters, served 4,443 patients in 2014, over the course of 11,707 visits.  

Read more about the grant to fund Health Care for the Homeless.

State of the County speech to be held April 19

County Board Chair Jan Callison will deliver the 2016 State of the County address on Tuesday, April 19, at 9 a.m. The event will be held at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins. 

Read more about the State of the County presentation.

– 30 –

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