August 2017 E-Newsletter

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Jan Callison - News from District 6


  August 2017

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

In this edition

Board meetings

July 18, 2017

Construction will improve accessibility along Minneapolis, Wayzata sidewalks 

Curbs

The board awarded a $437,933 contact to Concrete Idea, Inc. for construction of 42 pedestrian ramps, also called curb ramps, and revisions to four traffic control systems in Minneapolis and Wayzata. These improvements, which meet guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will make sidewalks more accessible to people with disabilities.

Improvements will be made along the following roadways:

  • County Road 40 (Glenwood Avenue), Minneapolis
  • County Road 66/81 (West Broadway Avenue), Minneapolis
  • County Road 101 (Wayzata Boulevard/Central Avenue North), Wayzata
  • County Road 152 (Webber Parkway), Minneapolis

Learn more about this action.

Learn more about how Hennepin County is working to make sidewalks accessible.

County awards funding to expand bicycle and pedestrian network

bicycles

The board awarded a total of $748,000 for bikeway projects and $170,225 for sidewalk projects throughout the county. Projects build on Hennepin County’s efforts to increase safe, comfortable transportation options for residents.

Bikeway funding awards in District 6:

  • City of Deephaven: $20,000 for a feasibility study of a bikeway along Minnetonka Boulevard and Vine Hill Road    
  • City of Hopkins: $100,000 to close a bikeway gap of the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail
  • Three Rivers Park District: $220,000 for construction of trail crossing improvements at intersections along the Dakota Rail Regional Trail and feasibility studies of bikeways

Sidewalk funding awards in District 6:

  • Cities of Edina and St. Louis Park: $75,600 for sidewalk construction along France Avenue

Learn more about biking and walking in Hennepin County. 

Learn more about this round of bikeway funding awards

Learn more about this round of sidewalk funding awards.  

Grant funding will help continue statewide multilingual phone line

The board accepted nearly $100,000 of grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services for a multilingual telephone line that connects immigrants and refugees to government services across the state. Hennepin County Office of Multicultural Services staff provide phone response services in 12 languages to people with limited English proficiency in all 87 Minnesota counties. Each year, approximately 7,000 households use this language referral line.

Learn more about the Office of Multicultural Services.

Learn more about this round of grant funding.

Board briefings

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.

July 13, 2017

Solid waste management plan

Staff presented an overview of the development of the Solid Waste Management Plan.  Their recommendations include:  “requiring cities to provide the opportunity for residents to recycle organics, requiring businesses that generate large quantities of food waste to implement food waste recycling and improve the waste infrastructure needed to make organics recycling more viable.”  They expect to submit the plan to the County Board for approval by the end of this year.

HUD/Fair Housing

Hennepin County must certify that it will affirmatively further fair housing in order to receive housing funds from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.  This certification involves conducting an analysis “to identify impediments to fair housing choice with the area,” taking appropriate actions “to overcome the effects of any impediments” and maintaining records reflecting the analysis.  This briefing provided detail about what sorts of activities the County must undertake in order to meet these certification requirements and to continue to receive Community Development Block Grant, HOME and other federal housing funds.

County calendar

August 26, 2017

Discover a renovated Edina Library

Edina Library will reopen on Saturday, August 26, after a four-month renovation.

A new floor plan is more open and flexible, and large windows bring in more natural light. Children’s areas from preschool to teens will include interactive learning elements, quiet study rooms and collaborative spaces. Acoustical treatments were added to contain sound from busier spaces. Find more information about Edina Library’s reopening.

August solar eclipse events

library

 

Several Hennepin County Libraries are hosting educational and social events related to the August 21st solar eclipse.  Programs include STEM classes and maker events for kids and teens, and viewing parties for the entire family. 

Find an eclipse event near you.

September 7, 2017

Volunteers sought for Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board

9 mile

Applications for two vacancies on the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board are now being sought.  The watershed district board coordinates the management of water and related land resources in the watershed.  The cities of Hopkins, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eden Prairie and Minnetonka have land within the district.

Due to the nature of the board, it is helpful for members to have a background in water conservation, development, law, engineering, environment or public administration. Board members may not be a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must be a resident of the district. 

Members serve three-year terms.

Interviews will be held on September 12.

More information and an application can be found here.

November 6, 2017

Applications now open for Hennepin Youth Sports Program grants

HYSG

 

The application period is open for the 2018 facility and fall equipment grants and closes Monday, November 6, 2017. Through the Hennepin County Youth Sports Program, Hennepin County awards over $2 million each year for sports facilities and equipment.  A special swimming lesson grant program is also administered with these funds.

The facility and equipment grants are administered through the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission and can be found here.

News

Ridgedale Library renovation

Ridgedale

 

Hennepin County Library - Ridgedale closed on Sunday, July 9, for a yearlong renovation.  All other services offered at the building - the service center, human services and district court - will remain open as usual during the renovation. 

Visit here to make an appointment at a service center.

In addition, Ridgedale patrons can continue to pick up library holds in the second floor space that previously was the used book store.  An automated book return near the main entrance also will be available during the renovation.

Other library locations welcome Ridgedale patrons.

Visit the library website for more information about the project, or watch this CCX Media story.

Light as a feather vacation reads

Hennepin County Library’s eBook offerings liberate your luggage from summer reading. Access more than 311,000 text and audiobook titles for all ages on your phone or tablet. Here are a few ways to do it:

  • Look for the eBook icon in catalog listings and  downloading the book to read using the Kindle app.
  • Use your library card to log into the cloudLibrary website, or get the app for your mobile device.
  • Explore local writers and publishers through EBooks Minnesota, on the library website.

Minnetonka Boulevard repaving and restriping

Early last week, crews started work in preparation for upcoming repaving and restriping of Minnetonka Boulevard (County Road 5) from Larchwood Drive to Highway 494.

Hennepin County crews began widening the road in key areas to accommodate for extra turn lanes. This work will also involve culvert and curb replacements.

In addition, other entities are working in the area to complete various projects before the new pavement goes down.

As a result of these projects, there will be lane restrictions along sections of Minnetonka Boulevard. Road users should expect changes in the traffic configurations and flaggers directing traffic. It may take longer to travel through the area. For your safety and the safety of our crews, we ask that you obey all posted speed limits and slow down where crews are working.

Repaving work to begin in late August

Once the road widening is complete, we anticipate beginning paving operations on the week of August 22, weather permitting.

Patience still required at driver's license centers

Residents have experienced long wait times due to unexpected issues with Minnesota's new licensing system. If you need to visit a service center soon, we ask for your patience as staff work through the new system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWODd8UFKTs

Consider becoming a foster parent

Across the state, there is an increased need for foster parents. Consider fostering in Hennepin County.

You can find information on fostering, including upcoming information sessions, at http://www.hennepin.us/fostercare.

Check out a recent article in the St. Cloud Times that addresses foster care needs in Minnesota: http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/2017/07/20/help-wanted-drug-use-policy-changes-up-need-foster-parents/477368001/

Wayzata Boulevard reconstruction update

County Road 112 in Long Lake and Orono

 

wayzata blvd

Traffic lanes changed

Lanes reconfigured at Brown Road intersection

Wayzata Boulevard is now reduced to a single lane with no turn lanes at the Brown Road intersection.  Turns will be allowed, but drivers will have to stay in the single lane.

To accommodate for the changes, traffic signal timing systems were adjusted.

This new lane configuration is expected to be in place for several weeks.  Please allow extra time to travel through the area.

Current and recent activities

Driveway, curb and gutter work completed

Over the past few weeks, crews made progress pouring in new driveways, curbs and gutters along the northern half of Wayzata Boulevard from Brimhall Avenue to Willow Drive.

Crews finished pouring driveways and curbs along this section of road late last week.

Retaining wall installation continues

Installation of new retaining walls began in front of the Long Lake Town Center. The new retaining walls are a part of the overall aesthetic improvements being made throughout the Wayzata Boulevard reconstruction.

Retaining walls also have a practical use. They serve as a critical structure that provides functional support for keeping two different elevations of soil in place and prevents erosion.

Upcoming construction activities

For the next few weeks, crews will be completing numerous roadway and utility activities.

The following is a brief overview:

Willow Drive to Brown Road

  • Grading and paving the roadway
  • Grading the roadway at the Brown Road intersection

Brown Road to Martha Lane

  • Forming and pouring new curbs and gutters
  • Construction of new retaining walls

Martha Lane to Wolf Pointe Trail

  • Grading at temporary sheeting area
  • Continuing watermain and private utility work

Private utility work

In addition to the county’s reconstruction efforts, private utility companies are also active in the area. They are splicing, relocating and placing new service lines along Wayzata Boulevard in Long Lake and Orono.

As a result, intermittent service interruptions can occur. When interruptions or outages happen, we recommend those impacted to contact their service provider directly. This will allow the private utility companies to locate and resolve the issue. Below is contact information for the private utility companies working in the area.

Contact information:

  • CenturyLink: 1-877-837-5738
  • Xcel Energy: 1-800-895-4999
  • Mediacom: 1-855-633-4226
  • CenterPoint Energy: project hotline - 612-321-5369 / restoration department - 612-321-5042

More project information

Hennepin.us/countyroad112

612-543-4275

countyroad112@hennepin.us

    Brown Road Bridge reconstruction update

    County Road 146

    CR 146

     

    Over the past few months, crews have made significant progress on the Brown Road (CR 146) bridge project.

    Bridge abutments nearing completion

    One of the major activities that is nearing completion is forming and pouring new bridge abutments. Abutments are supporting structures located at each end of the bridge span. They provide support for the entire bridge.

    Erosion protection work

    With reconstruction moving at a good pace in this area, crews are expected to begin riprap sloping. Riprap is a man-made form that is comprised of large rocks or concrete objects. It is intended to protect bridge abutments and shorelines from erosion.

    This work is expected to last approximately a week, weather permitting.

    Structural work follows

    Once sloping work is completed, crews will begin structural work of the bridge. Structural work will include placing bridge beams and bearings in order to provide a resting surface for the bridge deck. Structural work is expected to continue into August, followed by deck work.

    The bridge is expected to reopen later in the fall.

    For more information about this work, visit www.hennepin.us/brownroadbridge.

    About District 6

    District 6 map

    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.

    County information

    District 6 staff

    Jan Callison
    Commissioner
    6th District
    612-348-7886 

    Allyson Sellwood
    Policy Aide
    612-348-6885

    Christine Hoyles
    Administrative Assistant
    612-348-3168

    www.hennepin.us

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