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Greetings! We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for
staying connected to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county
news and services.
As always, please reach out with questions, comments, or to
learn more about how to get involved.
My best,
Elections officials will check-in voters using a secure e-poll book system in all Hennepin County cities that have elections.
This is the first year that the city of Minneapolis will use e-poll book iPads to check-in voters.
 Watch the Hennepin County election management video here.
In the 2016 election, more than 356,000 Hennepin County voters successfully checked-in using e-poll books in 44 Hennepin County cities.
With the new e-poll book system, voters can choose any line to check-in. They no longer need to find the specific line designated by their last name.
Paper records will be available at all polling places as back-up, and election judges will use the paper back-ups in the case of technical difficulties, to ensure voting continues.
The voter registration information in the e-poll books is never connected to the ballot counting machines or results reporting process. The two systems function independently and never transfer information among each other.
To check if there is an election in their area and to find the appropriate polling place, voters can view a sample ballot from the Secretary of State’s website. View sample ballot.
For more information about elections in Hennepin County, visit www.hennepin.us/elections.
Connect with employers hiring for jobs in transportation, customer service, healthcare, sales, maintenance and more.
Event details
This location is served by several bus routes. Visit www.metrotransit.org or or call 612-373-3333 for more details.
Job-seekers are encouraged to dress professionally and bring copies of their resumes.
View full event schedule.
View attending employers.
Learn more at www.hennepin.us/employmentservices.
October 10
County to Sell Property Near U.S. Bank Stadium to Affordable Housing Developer
The board, voting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, authorized the negotiation of a $2.45 million purchase agreement to sell surplus property next to U.S. Bank Stadium to affordable housing developer AEON. Located at 301 10th Avenue South, the 25,000-square-foot property was formerly part of the Dome Spur railroad corridor. The railroad authority purchased the corridor from Soo Line Railroad Company in 1991 and later transferred the corridor to the Metropolitan Council for the METRO Blue Line (Hiawatha), with the exception of this parcel. In August, the railroad authority issued a request for proposals for purchase of this property. AEON's proposal to develop affordable housing was selected.
Read more about this transaction.
Program Continues Helping Young Parents Reach Educational Goals
The board accepted renewed grant funding from Minnesota Department of Human Services that will help more than 120 young parents with low incomes to continue their education and prepare for careers. The program engages and supports young people to complete their high school diploma or GED and begin college or post-secondary career training. Hennepin County contracts with the MVNA, a subsidiary of Hennepin Healthcare System, and HIRED, a community non-profit organization, to operate the program.
Read more about the grant funding.
Read more about the Pathways Program.
Board Plans to Pay Off Target Field Debt a Decade Early
The board approved an action that will keep the county on track to pay off Target Field debt by 2027, a decade earlier than anticipated.
The county invested $350 million in the construction of Target Field with proceeds from three bonds. Those bonds are payable solely from the 0.15 percent ballpark sales tax imposed in 2006. To date, the county has paid off $79.2 million of the bonds early. Favorable interest rates, as well as the early payments and shortening the debt, have resulted in over $150 million of savings.
The sales tax also funds extended library hours and the county’s Youth Sports Program. Since 2009, $19.6 million of youth sports grants have helped fund 373 projects to build or improve sports facilities and playgrounds. In addition, funds provide sports equipment and improved access to swimming lessons throughout the county.
Read more about this action.
Read more about Hennepin County Youth Sports.
October 24
Agreement Will Support Commercial Clean Energy Projects
The board approved an agreement with the St. Paul Port Authority that will advance commercial and industrial energy efficiency and renewable energy projects throughout the county. On behalf of cities and to assist property owners, Hennepin County will apply property tax assessments on commercial properties that participate in Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. Facilitated by the Port Authority, this program helps commercial properties overcome financial challenges to making energy-saving and clean energy upgrades.This agreement allows financing to remain in place following property sales, ensuring property owners pay for the portion of projects from which they benefit.
Read more about this agreement.
Grant Funding Will Support Advocacy For African-American Crime Victims
The board accepted a $280,000 Minnesota Department of Public Safety grant to provide client assistance and to employ two advocates who will serve African-American crime victims. These advocates recently joined the victim services division of the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. Advocates support victims by providing case updates, explaining court procedures, answering questions, making referrals and offering other forms of assistance.
Read more about the victim services divsion.
Read more about this grant funding.
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Bruce Anderson
Kenny, Southwest Minneapolis
Human Services
Read below to see how Bruce makes Hennepin County tick.
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Describe your work.
I strive to ensure the county
offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits that helps to attract and
retain employees. To accomplish this, I work with and gather input from our
senior leaders, our Labor/Management committee, and from employees across the
county.
What part of your job do you find most challenging?
Offering a health care plan to
employees that is both market-competitive and affordable. It’s a delicate
balance of directing employees to the most efficient providers, making plan
design changes when necessary, and promoting employee wellness initiatives in
order to manage plan costs.
What do you find most enjoyable?
I enjoy interacting with a wide
variety of internal and external customers at the county. I also really enjoy
it when our Benefits team works hard to educate employees about the nuances of
the benefits we offer and we receive positive feedback. It affirms that the
work we do is making a difference.
What is one thing everyone should know about the work you do?
It’s a privilege to be able to help
influence the employee benefit programs offered to county employees and their
family members. These programs are intended to be of value to employees both
inside and outside their work lives and during their entire careers at the
county.
You're invited. In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the County Board often meets for updates on Thursday mornings. These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made, and topics are subject to change. Board briefings occur in the board room on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public. Call my office to confirm briefing time and location.
Thursday, November 16:
- 9:30am -10:30am: Housing Strategies
- 10:30am-11:30am: Human Health Services
Thursday, November 30:
- 9:00am -11:30am: Commissioner Amendments
November is National Native American Heritage Month
Learn more about the indigenous people of North America with
your library card. Look up the database, American Indian Experience: The
American Mosaic, which includes treaties, speeches, traditional tales, maps and
photos.
Write your novel at a Hennepin County library
Whether you need quiet spaces, moral support or technical
help to transform your idea into a novel, you can find it at Hennepin County
Library. Learn about a new online
publishing platform, and other resources available to writers.
Discover seasonal cooking inspiration
Need last-minute recipes and inspiration for seasonal
entertaining? The library can help you menu-plan, even while you’re cozied up
on the couch. Log in to these online resources with your library card anytime,
anywhere:
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PressReader:
Page through daily newspapers or search across titles. Check out the Star
Tribune Taste section on Thursdays, Food in the LA Times on Saturdays, and
other food sections in hundreds of newspapers, any day of the week.
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OverDrive
and cloudLibrary:
Access thousands of downloadable cookbooks and entertaining guides. Browse
cooking categories for titles that are available right now, or see what’s
coming soon and request next season’s cookbooks today.
- Bring recipes right into the kitchen by downloading the
PressReader, Overdrive and cloudLibrary apps to view on your mobile device.
Hennepin County Library presents Westminster Town Hall
Forum: James Forman Jr.
Join us for a discussion with Yale Law School professor James Forman Jr., author of “Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America.” His writing and research interests include criminal procedure, constitutional law, juvenile justice, and education law and policy. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Nancy
Asan
Administrative Assistant
612-348-0863
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