November 2018 E-Newsletter

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Jan Callison - News from District 6

 

  November 2018

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

October 9, 2017

CDC Grant will expand outreach prevent lead poisoning

Lead

The board accepted $405,706 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand outreach in communities at risk of lead poisoning, with a focus on immigrant and refugee populations.

This outreach work will build upon existing efforts. Since 2003, Hennepin County has helped nearly 4,600 households fix lead paint hazards in their homes. 

Hennepin County will hire a full-time employee charged with increasing lead exposure screening rates and improving outreach to families affected by lead exposure. Part of this work will involve identifying at-risk populations and building partnerships with community organizations.

View the full board action.

Learn more about resources for lead paint hazards

Board approves design for mental and chemical health triage space  

The board approved the initial design for an Intake and Triage Center that will be constructed in summer 2019 on the first floor of the 1800 Chicago Building in Minneapolis. The center, now in its pilot phase, will respond to immediate mental health and addiction crises, provide medical care, and link people to resources that support well-being. This action is part of a larger effort to transform this facility into the Behavioral Health Center that can address immediate needs as well as root causes of behavioral health conditions.

Learn more about this action.

Board appoints interim library director

Library

The board appointed Janet Mills as interim Hennepin County Library director. Mills is currently a division manager for the library system and brings knowledge of day-to-day library operations to this role. The county will conduct a national search for a permanent director. 

Learn more about this action.

October 25, 2018

Funding will direct people toward services and away from criminal justice system

The board accepted $1 million of federal funding to establish medical services and social supports for people facing mental health and addiction crises.

U.S. departments of Justice and Health and Human Services granted the county funding to expand the Behavioral Health Center in Downtown Minneapolis. The center links people in crisis to health, human services and community resources and provides another option for people who might otherwise go to jail or the hospital.

Funding will also expand a program that embeds mental health social workers with law enforcement. Social workers help de-escalate crises and connect people with follow-up services. The police department piloted this model in September 2017 in south Minneapolis and is expanding it to downtown Minneapolis.

View more about the Department of Justice grant.

View more about the Department Health and Human Services grant.

Grant will support academic, social and emotional outcomes for students

The board accepted a $500,000 federal grant to implement the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) model at four Hennepin County high schools with a high proportion of county-involved youth. As part of the BARR model, teachers build relationships with students to increase success and wellness inside and outside of school. The county-involved youth population includes teens in the foster care or juvenile justice systems; teens experiencing homelessness; and teens who are pregnant or parenting.

Find out more about this grant.

Board appoints member to Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board

NMCWD

The board appointed Robert Cutshall to the watershed district board.

See the related board action.

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.

October 4, 2018

Community Connectivity - future direction

The purpose of this briefing was to review the fiber optic short term and long term program goals and the connectivity landscape.  Staff also reviewed fiber installation over time and the connectivity roadmap.  Finally, we discussed future strategic direction and opportunities.  Since 2012, the county has installed over 200 miles of fiber.  We currently have 75 traffic signals on our fiber optic network.  We plan to expand our network to about 500 miles of fiber and over 400 traffic signals, and expand to additional facilities.  This will reduce the reliance on CenturyLink/Comcast leases, allow us to manage one network, build strategic partnerships with public agencies, and position us for future demands and technology opportunities.

October 18, 2018

Comprehensive Plan - public input

Staff presented the county's approach to the comp plan content, as well as engagement efforts. The comp plan is required by Minnesota Statute 473.851 and comes with requirements from the Met Council.  Hennepin County used this process to engage on other areas of county work as well.  High-level takeaways from the partner plan review were discussed.  Next steps include: a public hearing on the draft plan will take place on November 15, the county board will take action to submit the draft plan to the Met Council for review on December 11, the Met Council will have 120 days to review the plan, and finally the county board will take action on the final plan in the second quarter of 2019.

Legislative Platform

Intergovernmental Relations staff presented the proposed 2019 Legislative Platform to the board.  This briefing gave commissioners the opportunity to provide input into the platform priorities as well as the full platform that is used for lobbying efforts during the 2019 Minnesota Legislative Session.  There are four platform priorities: Investing in children and families, Housing, Disparity reduction, and Unfunded mandates.

County calendar

November 7, 2018

Dementia and you with the City of Minnetonka

Building on the Memory Café social program and Dementia Friends trainings at the Minnetonka Community Center, Ridgedale Library will host a six-part series this fall to offer supportive information and tools to dementia caregivers.

When: Wednesday, November 7, 2018
           10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Where: Ridgedale Library
            12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka
             Lady Slipper Meeting Room (second floor)

Learn more about the series.

November 11, 2018

100th anniversary World War I remembrance

WWI

Join us along Victory Memorial Drive Sunday, November 11, to recognize Veterans Day and the centennial of the World War I armistice. The armistice ended fighting on land, sea and air between U.S. allies and their last opponent, Germany.

When: Sunday, November 11, 2018
           10 a.m.

Where: Flagpole plaza at 45th Avenue North and Victory Memorial Drive

  • Moment of silence at 11 a.m.
  • The flagpole will cast a shadow on the plaza around 11 a.m., weather permitting.

Learn more at hennepin.us/victorymemorialdrive.

November 15, 2018

Public hearing – draft 2040 comprehensive plan

The board will host a public hearing to receive comments on the county’s draft comprehensive plan, an overarching policy framework required by state statute that will help the county meet its stated mission.

When: Thursday, November 15, 2018
            1:30 p.m.

Where: Hennepin County Government Center Board Room

            A-2400 Government Center

            300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis

Learn more about the comprehensive plan.

News

Real ID and Enhanced ID

Real ID

New license/ID options at county service centers

A new driver’s license/ID card option rolled out across the state on October 1 – REAL ID.

Learn more about REAL ID.

County service centers will offer three identification options:

  • Standard driver’s license or ID card
  • Enhanced driver’s license or ID card
  • REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card 

View information about the different options.

There is no need to get a REAL ID immediately. A standard driver’s license or ID card will remain a valid form of identification for domestic flights and access to federal facilities until October 1, 2020. Minnesotans have two years to get an upgraded license/ID. A valid passport is another option for domestic flights or access to federal facilities.

Residents who have no plans for air travel can still use the standard option for identification and driving purposes after October 2020.

See service center locations and information.

Make an appointment for a shorter wait time.

Thorpe Park warming house ribbon cutting ceremony

TPRC

On October 20th I attended the ribbon cutting for a new hockey rink and warming house at Thorpe Park.  The project was funded through the Hennepin Youth Sports Grant Program and the city of Deephaven. 

The new facility has four entry doors, ADA accessible year-round restrooms, two foyers, and an expanded interior space.  The hockey rink was finished last year with a new asphalt surface, board, and overhead lighting.  The new well that was installed with this project will support flooding and resurfacing the rink, as well as handling the bathroom supply.  Water will no longer be pumped from Lake Minnetonka to flood the rink. 

Information about the Hennepin Youth Sports Program as well as a list of grants awarded can be found here.

Warming house

Wayzata Boulevard reconstruction

Wayzata Boulevard is open to traffic

Crews have completed major construction activities in the closure area near the Luce Line Trail overpass and Wayzata Boulevard is now open to through traffic.

Last week, crews replaced underground utility lines, graded the soil, poured new curbs and paved the road. Before the road reopened, crews installed guardrails and cleaned up the work area.

Expect traffic configuration

Traffic is now on the southern half of the road. The focus of the project in this area will shift to reconstructing the northern half, including replacing underground utility lines and constructing permanent roadway features.

Major construction activities completed along shoreline area

WB

Crews completed major reconstruction activities along the shoreline area. The work included the construction of the new pedestrian refuge island and paving the final layer of asphalt between Martha Lane and Wolf Pointe Trail.

WB

Finishing work continues

With major reconstruction complete in this area, crews will work on various short-term activities, until the end of November.

These short-term activities, which will have minor impacts to traffic, will include:

  • Installing monument signs
  • Grinding in permanent striping
  • Final seeding and minor landscaping
  • Completing touch-up and clean-up work
  • Removing construction-related signs, cones and equipment

Once all this work is complete, we will have reached the end of work on phase one. This phase included work between Willow Drive and Wolf Pointe Trail. Crews will continue work on phase two, which covers the segment between Wolf Pointe Trail and Wayzata Boulevard West.

Vote early through November 5

Voters can place ballots directly into counting machines one week before election

Eligible voters will place their ballots directly into a ballot counter when voting in person through November 5.

Voting machines will record votes as they are turned in, but will not report results until after polls close on Election Day, November 6.

In-person absentee voting is available now at city halls across Hennepin County and at the Early Vote Center in downtown Minneapolis. Each city location can accommodate voters who live in that particular city.

Check available locations to vote early.

View a sample ballot.

For more information about elections in Hennepin County, visit hennepin.us/elections.

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

hennepin.us

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