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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn
Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969
Wheelage tax increase to maintain county roads and bridges
The board voted 4 in favor and 2 against to increase the wheelage tax in Hennepin County to $20 per year per vehicle, effective January 1, 2020.
The wheelage tax applies to vehicles registered at a Hennepin County address. Hennepin County has had a $10 wheelage tax since 2014.
The increase will generate about $10 million in additional revenue annually to help fund reconstruction and maintenance within the county road and bridge system, which includes 2,200 lane miles and 148 bridges.
12 other Minnesota counties also have a $20 wheelage tax including Ramsey, Carver and Washington in the metro.
Funding to expand county bikeways
Hennepin County is awarding grant funding for projects that will close bikeway gaps and expand the county’s bikeway system by approximately three miles.
On Tuesday, the board designated $525,000 to the following multi-use trail projects:
- City of Bloomington, $100,000 for a trail along Old Shakopee Road (County Road 1) from Killebrew Drive/24th Avenue to East 86th Street
- City of Brooklyn Park, $100,000 for a trail along 63rd Avenue between West Broadway Avenue (County Road 8) and Boone Avenue
- City of Champlin, $50,000 for a segment of trail from East River Parkway to the existing multi-use trail under Highway 169
- City of Plymouth, $75,000 for a trail along Brockton Lane (County Road 101) from future Alvarado Lane to 54th Avenue North
- City of Rogers, $100,000 for a trail along 141st Avenue (County Road 144) from Hill Place Drive to Marie Avenue
- Three Rivers Park District, $100,000 for a trail along Golden Valley Road (County Road 66) from Regent Drive to Bonnie Lane in Golden Valley
Improving accessibility of sidewalks
The board awarded nearly $1 million for construction of 41 pedestrian ramps, also called curb ramps, and revisions to eight traffic control systems.
Improvements will be made along roadways in the following cities: Bloomington, Crystal, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park.
These improvements, which meet guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will make sidewalks more accessible to people with disabilities.
Learn more about how Hennepin County is working to make sidewalks accessible.
Understanding evictions in Hennepin County
In 2018, there were nearly 550 eviction filings in two zip codes of Brooklyn Park, the highest eviction rates in suburban Hennepin County. This is according to Hennepin County's Eviction Dashboard.
Voting last week as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the board designated $15,000 to the City of Brooklyn Park to take this research a step further. The city is embarking on a one-year study to examine what's causing evictions and how to increase housing access, stability, and quality, and reduce racial disparities.
Cleaning up the site of a future survivors memorial
The board awarded a grant for contaminated soil cleanup at the site of a future memorial honoring survivors of sexual violence. Local non-profit Break the Silence is working with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to build the memorial in Boom Island Park in Minneapolis.
Up to $1.1 million to support local businesses
Hennepin County is renewing its investment in two programs designed to grow jobs and businesses in the county. The county board voted last week as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority to approve agreements with the Minneapolis Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) for the Open to Business Program (up to $405,000), and with the Edward Lowe Foundation for CEO Next Business Institute (up to $720,000).
Public hearing: affordable housing in Marcy-Holmes neighborhood
In June, the board gave preliminary approval to issue housing revenue bonds for rehab of 54 units of affordable rental housing in the 100 block of Fifth Street Southeast in Minneapolis. A public hearing will be hosted on this topic August 20 at 1:30 in the Hennepin County Government Center board room (A-2400), 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis.
Current and archival board meetings, agendas and minutes are available at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
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