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Jan Callison
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Allyson Lueneburg
Policy Aide
612-348-6885
Christine Hoyles
Administrative Assistant
612-348-3168
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
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Find past issues of my monthly newsletter.
County departments, agencies & other entities
Elected & appointed officials
Hennepin County libraries
Hennepin County Medical Center
Hennepin volunteers
Online services
Phone directory
Service Center information
Southwest light rail
Understanding your property tax
 Construction has steadily continued along the Bushway Road (CR 101) corridor. Many milestones have been met and the project remains on schedule for the reopening dates:
September 16- Reopening CR 101 between Minnetonka Boulevard and Eastman Lane/McGinty Road
November 1- Reopening of the bridge
For more information regarding the project please visit the project page.
On Friday, September 2, County Road 101 in Minnetonka is
scheduled to reopen to all traffic between Townline Road (County Road 62) and
Covington Road (near Clear Springs Elementary).
The road was closed in July to
install a new box culvert at Purgatory Creek, replace sanitary sewer and
watermain and reconstruct the roadway. Crews will continue reconstructing the
southbound lanes over the next several weeks between Old Excelsior Boulevard
and Covington Road.
The reconstruction project is expected to be
substantially complete this November, with primarily “behind the curb” work
continuing into early 2017.
 Photo credit: Tim Nelson
Below is an article that was in MPR news regarding the Twin Cities transit.
The national trade group representing transit services, contractors and suppliers is lauding Twin Cities' Metro Transit for record ridership on the Green Line and improvements in safety and operations.
The American Public Transportation Association named Metro Transit its System of the Year for 2016, Metro Transit said Wednesday. Recent honorees include the Houston-based METRO system and Connect Transit in Normal, Ill., both of which were cited for their increase in ridership.
Metro Transit has been expanding its offerings recently with the Green Line light rail route that opened in 2014, and the new A Line bus rapid transit service running from the Rosedale Center mall in Rosedale to south Minneapolis. Both are showing strong ridership, Metro Transit said.
The agency celebrated its award Wednesday at St. Paul's Union Depot. The system plans a new logo and will a customer appreciation event tied to the award.
Article written by Tim Nelson.
Are you looking for a paid college internship?
Hennepin County has various opportunities for internship programs. Learn more here.
 Hennepin County is encouraging residents to reuse item and reduce the volume of waste produced through our Choose to Reuses program. Coupons are valid until October 31, 2016.
Get your Choose to Reuse coupons today.
 The commercial sector generates more than half of the total waste in Hennepin County, and nearly two-thirds of the waste created at businesses and non-profits is recyclable.
Owners with commercial buildings in the seven-county metro area -- that also generate four cubic yards or more of trash per week -- must be recycling at least three materials by 2016.
Hennepin County offers grants, signage, technical assistance and case studies to help business and organizations start or improve recycling programs.
Read more about business recycling and grants.
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Greetings,
I hope you are enjoying my electronic newsletters, and find them interesting and informative about county activities. In addition to my monthly newsletter, the county sends various
newsletters and notifications available by email or text message. To explore the many opportunities to
subscribe or to change your preferences, visit the subscription webpage.
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
August 9, 2016
Hennepin County will be work-study employer for community college students
The board approved a plan to work with Minneapolis Community and
Technical College to employ students on a work-study basis at Hennepin County.
Students will be made available by MCTC for performance of specific work
assignments which will be determined based on the needs of Hennepin County
departments. The partnership is a strategy to address current and future
workforce needs. Students will receive pay through the work-study program and
Hennepin County will be responsible for 25 percent of the students’
salary.
Learn more about the work-study program.
County Commits to funding up to 10 percent of Blue Line Extension
Voting as the Regional Railroad Authority, the board agreed to
fund up to a 10 percent share of total capital costs of the Blue Line
Extension, an amount not to exceed $149.6 million. The light rail route is
planned to head northwest out of downtown, serving North Minneapolis, Golden
Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park. The final environmental
impact statement was submitted to the federal government in July; the Blue Line
project development phase was completed on time and on budget. The Regional
Railroad Authority also voted to fund the next phase, continuing
engineering work on the project, with a $10.3 million allocation. The rest of
the next phase will be covered by an anticipated $15.51 million from the
Counties Transit Improvement Board.
Learn more about the funding commitment.
Learn more about the next phase.
August 23, 2016
Nurse-Family Partnership expanding into suburban Hennepin County
 The board approved the implementation of the Nurse-Family Partnership program in
suburban Hennepin County by accepting $3.5 million in grant funding until the
end of 2020. The partnership works with teens and young adults who are pregnant
for the first time so they receive regular nurse visits until the child is two
years old. This evidence-based program has been shown to improve prenatal
health, reduce childhood injuries, increase school readiness and more.
Read more about the Nurse-Family Partnership
NetWork for Better Futures to reuse and recycle more Hennepin County construction material
The board approved an agreement with NetWork for Better Futures for
services to reuse and recycle construction and demolition waste. The company
uses deconstruction techniques to demolish buildings and will divert 162 tons of
material for reuse and recycle 4,000 tons from 25 projects. It will also
partially deconstruct 30 commercial and residential buildings, saving 90
reusable tons of material. Better Futures hires men with a history of
incarceration, poverty, and other challenges and uses deconstruction projects to
provide job training. The $405,000 contract will be in effect September 1,
2016, through December 31, 2018.
Learn more about NetWork for Better Futures.
14 environmental education grants awarded
 The board approved 14 Green Partners environmental education grants
for projects that empower residents to take actions to improve the environment.
The grant agreements are for projects with the following organizations:
- Alliance
for Sustainability, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and Edina - $15,000
- Bdote
Learning Center, Minneapolis - $8,000
- Center
for Earth, Energy and Democracy, Minneapolis - $15,000
- Climate
Generation: A Will Steger Legacy, various cities - $15,000
- Congregations
Caring for Creation, various cities - $15,000
- Eden
Prairie Independent School District 272, Eden Prairie - $7,800
- Lao
Assistance Center, Minneapolis - $7,500
- Minneapolis
Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, various cities -
$8,000
- Robbinsdale
Independent School District 281, Robbinsdale - $8,500
- Spark
Youth, Minneapolis - $15,000
- The
Edina Community Foundation, Edina - $11,800
- The
Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis - $9,900
- University
of Minnesota Extension, Minneapolis - $15,000
- Voyageurs
National Park Association, Minneapolis - $2,500
Learn
more about the Green Partners environmental education program.
Read the board action request.
Board approves issuance of new bonds; refunding of existing bonds
The board approved $155,320,000 in new and refunded general obligation bonds.
$95,000,000 of new bonds will fund capital improvements included in the county’s
capital improvement plan, including library, general facilities, and road
projects. The remainder is a refunding of existing bonds that are being
consolidated to realize interest savings of $2,200,000 and simplify bond
accounting and management.
Read about the project.
August 30, 2016
Southwest Light Rail funding increase helps project move ahead
Hennepin County will
increase its funding commitment to the Southwest Light Rail Transit project,
helping to bridge a funding gap left by the Minnesota Legislature. Acting as
the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, the Hennepin County Board
agreed to increase its share of the project by $20.5 million, for a total
funding commitment of $185 million, or 10 percent of the project’s capital
costs. Combined with a similar proposed increase by the Counties Transit
Improvement Board and a promise by the Metropolitan Council to raise $103.5
million in Certificates of Participation – a financing tool used previously by
the Met Council and the state – the county’s additional infusion is helping the
project bridge the $144.5 million funding gap left by the state, and fulfilling
the federally mandated local share.
Read the resolution.
Agendas and minutes of action taken by the Hennepin County Board are posted under Hennepin County meetings and agendas. For greater detail on the above agenda items and additional board actions, visit county news releases.
August 25, 2016
Infant Team
Hennepin County’s rate of
children returning to foster care exceeds national goals. Because of that, last year the County Board
approved a three year pilot project to provide services to children, their
families and foster families based upon work done at Tulane University. The pilot, called the Hennepin County Infant
Team, brings together the courts, county social workers, clinicians and others
in a coordinated way that particularly focuses upon the importance of creating secure
attachment in young children. Based upon
the first year of work, staff recommends continuing the pilot, adding a mental
health provider, initiating the outcome evaluation and working to solidify
funding.
Budget and Property Tax Update
In
preparation for adoption of the 2017 budget, staff reviewed changes to the
county property tax base, pointing out that 1) the county’s property tax base
now exceeds pre-recession levels, 2) this outcome is generally the result of new
construction and 3) the growth in apartment values has outpaced the growth in
residential values. Staff also provided
information on the estimated tax impact of changes in the tax levy to various
properties throughout Hennepin County.
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 board room on the 24th floor of the
Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.
September 8, 2016
Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board Opening
Applications are being accepted for the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board until September 8th. Applicants must not be a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must be a resident of the District.
Appointees advise commissioners on issues and programs and help set policy. The open appointments process promotes citizen involvement through volunteer service.
For more information, visit http://ow.ly/Yrn5303AaHK
September 8, 2016
Public Hearing: Regional Railroad Authority 2017 maximum property tax levy
Acting as the Regional Railroad Authority, a public hearing to consider the 2017 maximum levy for the authority will occur on Tuesday, September 8, at the authority meeting after the 1:30
p.m. board meeting, in the Hennepin County boardroom.
Learn more about the hearing.
September 13, 2016
Public Hearing: Suburban housing, community development assessment
The county board set a public hearing to get comments on its 2015 Consolidated Annual Performance
and Evaluation Report. The report is an annual evaluation of the county’s
administration of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s
Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership and Emergency
Solutions Grant programs in suburban Hennepin County. The hearing is part of a
process to assess the county’s five-year Consortium Consolidated Plan.
The
hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 13, at 1:30 p.m., before the Public
Works, Energy and Environment Committee.
Written comments
will be accepted September 6-20. During this period, a draft copy of the report will be
available at www.hennepin.us/CAPER and at Hennepin County regional libraries.
2017 public hearing schedule for adoption of the 2017 budget and levy
County administrator presents proposed 2017 budget to County
Board
Tuesday, September 13, 2016, 1:30 p.m.
County Board vote on 2017 maximum tax levy and budget
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 1:30 p.m.
Public safety
Thursday, September 22, 2016, 1 – 4 p.m.
Library/Operations
Monday, September 26, 2016, 1 – 4 p.m.
Health
Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 9 a.m. – noon
Human Services and Public Health
Thursday, September 29, 2016, 1 – 4 p.m.
Public Works
Friday, September 30, 2016, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Human Services and Public Health
Thursday, October 6, 2016, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. (follow-up, if
needed)
Capital Budgeting Task Force and fees
Thursday, October 20, 2016, 9 a.m. – noon
Truth-in-Taxation public meeting
Tuesday, November 29, 2016, 6 p.m. Participants can park
for free after 5 p.m. in the Government Center ramp. Enter on 3rd Avenue.
Administrator amendments
Wednesday, December 7, 2016, during Budget and Capital
Investment Committee meeting
Commissioner amendments
Monday, December 12, 2016, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
County Board vote on 2017 budget and levy
Tuesday, December 13, 2016, 1:30 p.m.
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