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Hennepin Happening
Welcome to the District 5 February newsletter! Scroll down to read more about
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It's been two years since I was first entrusted with this office, and I'm looking forward to the opportunities and challenges these coming two years will present. For the first time, I will be the chair of the Administration, Libraries, and Budget committee. The County has a $2.4 billion budget. Whether it is investing in staff to protect abused children or getting the most out of our libraries, it will be my responsibility to lead a process that ensures taxpayer money is used efficiently and to the greatest possible benefit.
I was also assigned to a number of boards and committees as a representative of the county. With light rail set to arrive in Eden Prairie, I'm excited to be serving on the SWLRT Community Works Steering Committee. I will also be representing the county on the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB), helping to guide the development of our roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.
Here's the full list of my assignments:
- Administration, Libraries and Budget Committee, chair
- Child Wellbeing Taskforce
- Heading Home Hennepin
- Health and Human Services Committee, vice-chair
- Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA)
- Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA)
- Hennepin Health
- Transportation Advisory Board
- Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC)
- AMC District X
- AMC Environment
- Hennepin History Museum
- Light Rail Transit Executive Change Control Board, alternate
- Metro GIS Policy Board
- Metropolitan Energy Policy Coalition
- Partnership on Solid Waste and Energy Issues
- Regional Solid Waste Hauler Licensing Board
- SWLRT Community Works Steering Committee
"Our goal has been to get ahead of the curve." Connecting domestic abuse victims with legal representation and support services earlier means a faster track to healing and strengthening our most vulnerable families. Thanks to KSTP and Central Minnesota Legal Services for getting the word out about this program.
Watch the clip here.
Projects in Bloomington and Eden Prairie both received Good Steward grants for improving water quality in our communities. Dan and Heidi Niziolek received $9,000 to construct two additional rain gardens draining into Winchester Pond and to replace invasive plants along the shore of the pond with native vegetation.
Fairway Woods Condominium, Inc. received $24,750 for a runoff and erosion control project. The project will divert the roof water from a condominium building into four rock swales which fill flow into two rain gardens. In addition, four eroded areas will be regraded and restored with erosion control mats. This project will directly improve the water quality of Purgatory Creek, which is adjacent to the work.
President's Day closures
Our libraries, service centers and most of our county offices will be closed for President's Day, Monday, February 18.
Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 - 9:00PM
80 W 66th St, Richfield
CrossRoads Panorama (CRP) is a community-based youth arts program that helps youth, ages 5 on up, break free of challenging behaviors. It combines creative dramatization techniques to empower youth with tools to explore and understand real life issues. CRP’s successful use of drama as an interactive learning experience gives youth a viable way to visualize problems and make positive choices.
Please come support and uplift our youth ages 12 and up! This will be a great event filled with art of expression! This is a FREE event, donations will be accepted.
If you or someone you know would like to participate in open mic, please call 612-643-0342 or email crossroadspanorama@live.com.
2 dates:
Wednesday, February 12 at 12:30-2:00PM
Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave)
RSVP: 612-861-9385
Thursday, March 7 at 1:00-2:30pm
Richfield Municipal Center
RSVP: 612-861-9845
Scammers and fraudsters are using telephone calls, emails, and mail to contact unsuspecting victims and trick them into sending money. Staff from the Hennepin County Attorney's office will help attendees identify and understand common scams.
Refreshments provided. Free, but RSVP is requested.
Since my last newsletter at the beginning of the month, here are a few highlights from my work...
Participated in a panel discussion about HUB projects with 30 young professionals in the Urban Land Institute's Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDi). The REDi is a selective program that helps participants learn more about what it takes to put together a successful development. Participants receive a comprehensive curriculum and gain experience working on a real-world case study.
By proclaiming Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January, the board recommitted to protecting and supporting a safe future for young people in the community. During 2017, Hennepin County staff served 64 youth who had experienced or were at risk for exploitation or trafficking. The No Wrong Door and Safe Harbor initiatives guide the county's work on the principle that these sexually exploited youth are survivors and victims, not criminals.
Dropped by to chat with police officers at "Coffee with a Cop" in Richfield.
JFK Assassination: The Mystery and Legend
Saturday, February 23, 11 a.m. to noon
Penn Lake Library, 8800 Penn Avenue South, Bloomington
After more than 50 years, the JFK assassination still sparks discussion and controversy. Join us for a discussion of one of the pivotal events of the 20th century. Q&A will follow the program.
Learn more about this history program.
A hidden treasure revealed
See an exhibition of photos from the John F. Glanton Collection, on display at the Hennepin Gallery at the Government Center, downtown. Glanton captured photos of the Twin Cities African American community in the 1940s. The negatives were only recently rediscovered in his garage. The photos are always available online, in Hennepin County Library Special Collections, and the exhibit will on view through February 26.
Learn more about the Glanton Collection exhibit.
Streaming video at your fingertips
Try streaming the OverDrive videos in our collection on computers and personal devices.
See our collection of streaming video.
February is African American History Month! Visit the Hennepin History Museum website to find out more about upcoming events this month.
Life Cycle
Exhibit open until March 3, 2019
2303 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis
Explore the vast, and often shared, triumphs experienced on two wheels through the stories of eleven notable and influential cyclists, activists, and bicycle makers. The exhibit features original portraits by celebrated photographer Nancy Musinguzi paired with insights into the role of bikes and cycling in each subject's own words.
Opening Reception History Harvest: An Exhibition
Saturday, February 16, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
2303 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis
A “history harvest” is a form of community history gathering that allows participants to share their family stories without having to give up their heirlooms. Tina Burnside, a civil rights attorney, writer, playwright, and one of the founders of the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG) held several history harvests in Minneapolis’ Southside African American community where participants’ family photos were scanned, artifacts were photographed, and stories documented..
Thank you to the Marbrook Foundation for their support of this exhibit and opening reception.
35W and Eden Prairie's Flying Cloud Drive are in the midst of major construction projects. Skip the traffic jams and sign up for updates on the projects impacting your commute.
You can also visit the Hennepin County website for updates on road maintenance projects and all other road construction.
Housing crises, energy assistance, child protection, emergency situations; we are here to advocate for you when it comes to navigating local and county services, and we want to help. Please call our office at 612-348-7885 with any questions or for assistance.
Contact
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
Hennepin County District 5
Bloomington | Eden Prairie | Richfield
612-348-7885 | debbie.goettel@hennepin.us
Casey Krolczyk
Principal Aide
612-348-7885 | casey.krolczyk@hennepin.us
Michael Ohama
Policy Director
612-348-7885 | michael.ohama@hennepin.us
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