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Welcome to the District 5 February newsletter!
 After five years of service in the District 5 office, Casey Meinhardt has move on to a new position as a Law Clerk for Referee Jason Hutchison in Family Court at the Family Justice Center not far from the Government Center offices. Having recently graduated law school and passed the BAR, Casey is excited for his new adventure and putting that degree to good use. Many of you have had the experiencing of meeting Casey as he accompanied me many times to events, ribbon cuttings, festivals and community events. Others may have worked with him as he was the office’s liaison at constituent services. He also was our communications and social media coordinator. Along with that he sat many years on the Hennepin History Museum board representing District 5, he has a real passion for history. He was well loved and respected by his colleagues. Casey brought a calming presence in difficult times, and one of the most personable and caring individuals the office has ever known. He will truly be missed.
Rethos, a regional nonprofit that advocates for the reuse and repair of old buildings, will be offering six free home weatherization and energy efficiency workshops to residents of Hennepin County in 2022.
Workshops will teach homeowners, renters, and caretakers of old buildings how to maximize energy efficiency in their residences, saving money and prolonging the life of their homes. Some workshops will include a free home weatherization kit that attendees can take home and apply themselves.
Official dates and times for these workshops will be determined and posted in Spring of 2022. Once posted, residents will be able to view workshop descriptions and register on Rethos’ webpage at www.rethos.org/classes.
 The board approved Hennepin County Youth Sports Grants. The city of Bloomington is receiving a grant for football practice equipment and Eden Prairie for lacrosse equipment, but we didn't receive enough requests to distribute the full amount.
Our girls and boys grow up both mentally and physically stronger when we support sports as part of a healthy lifestyle. I encourage all of our schools, community centers, and youth organizations to apply and take advantage of this program. Learn more here: Hennepin Youth Sports Program – MASC
Commissioner Goettel and the District 5 Office are seeking a new, full-time team member to lead office communications, advocate for district residents, collaborate with co-workers, and develop a diverse portfolio of policy initiatives. Apply by Feb. 7
We thank our staff for the many ways their work helped improve the lives of everyone who calls Hennepin County home. Here’s a look at some of what was accomplished in 2021.
- Worked with partners to help over 930 people transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
- Worked with partners to cut application times for cash, food and child care assistance from an hour down to 13 minutes.
- Distributed $70M in small business relief funds, with more than 40% going to businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color.
- Committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and achieving "net zero" emissions by 2050.
- Administered 64,000+ COVID-19 vaccinations and distributed 650,000+ masks to community organizations.
- Hosted 9 healing circles for African American, African immigrant, American Indian, Asian American, Latino/Latinx, young adults and allies, with the intention to create a welcoming, safe space to support healing from trauma experience in the past year.
 Our snowplow operators have been working hard this winter season to help keep our county roads safe.
Please do your part by slowing down and giving our crews plenty of room to work.
If you see issues on our roads, call us at 612-596-0299 or report them on our website. hennepin.us/reportaproblem
Hennepin County is seeking organizations, churches, and other sites to join our warming options list. These spaces are critical for providing people relief from dangerously cold winter temperatures.
Please email erin.wixsten@hennepin.us to learn more. hennepin.us/staywarm
Plastics are problematic for many reasons. They create waste and litter, contribute to climate change, pollute our water, harm wildlife, and have largely unknown health impacts for us.
Be part of the solution by joining the Hennepin County Plastic-Free Challenge and committing to actions that help create a plastic-free world. Together, our actions help to reduce waste, protect water and wildlife, address climate change, and look after the health of ourselves and future generations.
The Plastic-Free Challenge is a month-long effort starting February 1 to reduce plastic consumption, especially single-use plastics, in ways that fit best in your lifestyle and are most impactful to reducing your footprint. You can also create a team to take the challenge along with your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Or encourage an organization, business, or community group you are a part of to become a Hennepin County Plastic-Free Challenge Partner.
Learn more, sign up, and get ready to go plastic-free at hennepinplasticfree.ecochallenge.org
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Join us for a free virtual event with Will Steger and Rita Mae Steger. Join artic explorer WIll Steger and his niece Rita Mae Steger, an accomplished chef, as they discuss their new cookbook and share heartwarming stories. Click here to register and for more information.
 The Hale-Field Pairing Exhibit will open at the Hennepin History Museum in March.
2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the pairing of Field and Hale elementary schools in South Minneapolis. The topic of school desegregation in the years leading up to the merger polarized the city. Parents of students argued for and against the pairing, which was a cautious initiative to combat school segregation dictated by the racial boundaries established by rampant redlining practices in the Twin Cities.
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
Michael Ohama
Policy Director
612-348-7885 | michael.ohama@hennepin.us
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