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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Hennepin County has funding available for a variety of environmental projects such as the Green Partners environmental education grants, building projects that use deconstruction techniques instead of standard demolition to remove materials during the destruction, alteration, or renovation of a building, and grants to establish organics recycling drop-off sites.
A few more updates you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:
🗑 City Cleanup Events: Cities across Hennepin County are holding cleanup events to make spring cleaning more convenient. See if your city is holding a clean-up event.
🗑 2021 household Hazardous Waste Collection Events: Hennepin County is holding six community collection events for county residents to safely and properly dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes in 2021.
🏛 Edina City Council Update: Earlier this week I met with the Edina City Council to provide an update on the work Hennepin County is doing to serve our community.
🌎Edina Energy and Environment Commission: I spent Thursday evening with the Edina Energy and Environment Commission discussing Hennepin County's Climate Action Plan.
🚧 Tanager Bridge Construction Update: Construction on schedule for May bridge reopening. Since Tanager Bridge closed on March 8, crews have been working hard to complete planned construction activities including necessary tree clearing and dirt removal from around the project site.
🚧 Southwest LRT construction to impact traffic on Excelsior Boulevard (County Road 3):Starting Monday, April 5, there will be lane and access closures for two months on Excelsior Boulevard between 11th and 5th avenues.
I encourage you to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns using the contact information at the bottom of this newsletter.
In service,
Chris
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Environmental education grants
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Funding is available to support organizations in educating and motivating residents to become environmental stewards and take environmentally friendly actions. Green Partners environmental education grants are available to nonprofit organizations, community groups, youth programs, schools, congregations, early childhood family education programs, and park districts.
Applications are being accepted until Thursday, May 6. Virtual information meetings will be held Tuesday, April 13 and Monday, April 19. Learn more and RSVP to an info meeting.
For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.
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Grants for deconstruction to salvage building materials
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Funding is available for building projects that use deconstruction techniques instead of standard demolition to remove materials during the destruction, alteration, or renovation of a building. In a deconstruction project, a building is taken apart mostly by hand, and materials are sorted into categories for efficient recycling and reuse.
Property owners and developers can receive up to $5,000 to help offset the additional time and labor costs associated with deconstruction. Grants are available for demolition or renovation projects on residential properties up to 4 units that are 500 square feet or larger on structures built prior to 1970.
Learn more and apply here.
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Grants to establish organics recycling drop-off sites
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Funding is available for cities to establish organics recycling drop-off sites. Up to $15,000 is available for each drop-off site, and cities can receive funding for up to three sites.
Organics drop-off sites increase access to organics recycling for all residents, especially those living in multifamily properties without access to city service and those in cities that don’t offer service. Drop offs also raise awareness about the benefits of organics recycling and build interest in additional programs.
For more information, see the organics recycling drop-off funding guidelines (PDF) or contact Kaitlin Steinberg at kaitlin.steinberg@hennepin.us or 612-492-1323.
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This spring, cities across Hennepin County are holding cleanup events to make spring cleaning more convenient. City cleanup events offer residents a chance to get rid of hard-to-dispose items such as old furniture, exercise equipment, appliances, electronics, and more.
Cities offer either curbside service or drop-off sites for your items. See if your city is holding a clean-up event, and be sure to check with your city for details about what’s accepted and other guidelines.
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Hennepin County is holding six community collection events for county residents to safely and properly dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous wastes in 2021.
Events will take place Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates:
- May 7 and 8 at Minnetonka Public Works
- June 11 and 12 at the St. Louis Park Middle School
- June 25 and 26 at Pillsbury Elementary School in Minneapolis
- July 30 and 31 at Anthony Middle School in Minneapolis
- August 13 and 14 at South High School in Minneapolis
- September 17 and 18 at the Hennepin County Public Works Orono Shop
Before you go, find health and safety guidelines and a list of acceptable materials at hennepin.us/collectionevents.
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 Earlier this week I met with the Edina City Council to provide an update on the work Hennepin County is doing to serve our community. A special thank you to Mayor Jim Hovland and the councilmembers for the opportunity to connect and for their service and commitment. I look forward to our continued partnership.
Watch the full city council meeting, here.
I spent Thursday evening with the Edina Energy and Environment Commission discussing Hennepin County's Climate Action Plan to
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Reduce the inequitable climate impacts that affect the health and wellbeing of communities of color
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Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Increase environmental resilience and protect natural resources
I'm grateful for their contributions and feedback throughout the drafting process of the plan and am excited for future opportunities to partner on our shared climate priorities. Their advocacy and dedication to energy conservation, waste reduction, and environmental and conservation efforts is deeply valued.
Watch the full meeting, here.
By Kristen Miller, Sun Sailor
The departments also entered an agreement with Hennepin County Human Services in 2019 that provides one full-time senior social worker, who is shared equally between the two cities. This agreement continues until 2023.
“Teaming with our Hennepin County social workers has been a wonderful tool to provide information and resources to better meet future mental health needs of those struggling,” said Scott Marks, community engagement officer with the Minnetonka Police Department. “Our goal is that this leads to improved access to services, more sustained individual mental health outcomes, and less reliance on law enforcement and emergency medical services resources.”
Access the full story, here.
Construction on schedule for May bridge reopening
Since Tanager Bridge closed on March 8, crews have been working hard to complete planned construction activities including necessary tree clearing and dirt removal from around the project site. Weather permitting, the reopening of the bridge is anticipated to be on schedule for May.
Erosion protection, bridge work underway; utility work to follow
Last week, crews began constructing a retaining wall to help build up the road base to support the future alignment of Shoreline Drive.
They also began installing riprap sloping along the Tanager Channel shoreline and preparing to construct the new bridge foundations. Riprap slopes, which are comprised of large rocks, help protect bridge abutments and shorelines from erosion.
Soon, crews will begin relocating the Metropolitan Council’s nearby sanitary sewer system.
Each of these activities will take up to a few weeks. Completing them will allow us to build the new bridge in its future alignment and keep Tanager Bridge open through the summer months.
Through traffic: use the signed detour
All through traffic on Shoreline Drive, including large and heavy commercial vehicles, needs to use the signed detour:
- Highway 12
- Wayzata Boulevard (County Road 112)
- Watertown Road / 6th Avenue (County Road 6)
- Shadywood Road / North Shore Drive (County Road 19)
Using the signed detour will keep you from experiencing additional delays and getting frustrated. And, it will help local streets stay safe for the individuals and families who live and play in the area.
Maintaining residential access up to the bridge
While Tanager Bridge is closed, we will continue to provide residential and business access to help people get to the marinas, other businesses and homes near the bridge.
For more information
To learn more about this project, visit www.hennepin.us/tanager-bridge.
For questions, please contact the project at transportation@hennepin.us or call 612-348-8448.
Lane and access closures on Excelsior Boulevard
Starting Monday, April 5, there will be lane and access closures for two months on Excelsior Boulevard between 11th and 5th avenues. The closure is needed for Southwest LRT crews to complete underground utility work.
Eastbound lanes will close for up to four weeks. Once eastbound lanes reopen, westbound lanes will close for up to four weeks.
Also during these two months, the south entrance to 8th Avenue at the Excelsior Boulevard intersection will remain closed.
During the closure, the detour for people driving will use:
- Shady Oak Road (County Road 61)
- Highway 7
- Highway 169
Access to local businesses in the area will change during the closures. Please go to Metropolitan Council's detour maps page for more information.
For more information
To learn more about the Southwest LRT project, visit swlrt.org.
If you have urgent Southwest LRT construction issues such as blocked access to business or residential areas, improper traffic sign placement or parking issues, call the 24-hour hotline at 612-373-3933.
If you have general, non-urgent questions, contact Nkongo Cigolo, Southwest LRT community outreach coordinator for Hopkins, at nkongo.cigolo@metrotransit.org or 612-373-3825.
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.
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Chris LaTondresse
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Jessica Oaxaca
District Director
612-348-6885
Kyle Olson
Policy Director
612-348-3168
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