October Newsletter from Hennepin County Commissioner Kevin Anderson

commissioner kevin anderson news from district 7

October 2023

Coffee w/ Kevin

 

We are coming up on our final Coffee with Kevin series for this fall, focused on the 2024 Hennepin County budget.

Tomorrow, Oct. 27th: Caribou Coffee, 12850 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55369

In September of this year, we started reviewing the 2024 budgets for our lines of businesses. The final budget will be approved in early December. Let's highlight a few of the things being proposed that affect District 7:

  • In general, you can expect to see Hennepin County invest much more in priorities such as housing, transportation, public safety, and more. This is due to new changes in state law that allow us to invest in such spaces.
  • In the new Capital Improvement Program, District 7 is anticipated to receive over $50M in projects and improvements through 2028, which we are very excited about, especially when looking at the 2018 - 2022 CIP which only invested roughly $7M in District 7.
  • Hennepin County is increasing our staffing and supports in many of our resident-focused programs including in health and human services, and public safety. This should better meet the growing demands for county services.

To see budget specifics, click here.

If you want to weigh in on the conversation or if you'd like more information, please email our office at clara.severson@hennepin.us.

Recap: Juvenile Justice Town Hall

JJ Town Hall Photo

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for the Juvenile Justice Town Hall at the end of last month. We hope you found it inspiring and educational.

A very special thanks to our panelists:


- Sheriff Dawanna Witt with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
- County Attorney Mary Moriarty with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office
- Chief Judge Toddrick Barnette with the Fourth Judicial District
- Captain Jeff Beck with the Rogers Police Department
- Director Catherine Johnson with the Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation

And lastly, we're so grateful to the City of Rogers for ensuring the community has beautiful spaces to rent like the Sunroom where the event was hosted.

Vote

Remember to Vote!

Voting in elections is your opportunity to be heard, hold elected officials accountable, and have a say in important issues that affect your community. Prepare to vote so you can take part in our democracy.

Get prepared to vote:

Here are the elections happening in District 7:

  • ISD 11 Anoka Hennepin – School Board Member District 5
  • ISD 277 Westonka – 4 School Board Members, 2 ballot questions
  • ISD 279 Osseo – 1 ballot question
  • ISD 284 Wayzata – 4 School Board Members, 1 ballot question
  • ISD 877 Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose – 1 ballot question

Click this link to see if your community has an election this November!

Tree Canopy

25 Healthy Tree Canopy Grants Awarded

The county recently awarded 25 Healthy Tree Canopy grants totaling about $499,700. Grant recipients include 13 cities, two affordable housing properties, five schools, and five nonprofit organizations, including congregations and neighborhood associations. More than 620 trees will be planted through the grant projects.

Grants awarded to cities

Grants to cities fund tree inventories, help mitigate the effects of tree pests and pathogens, increase the capacity of city forestry programs, educate residents on the benefits of trees and engage them in tree planting efforts, and improve livability by planting trees in neighborhoods that face economic, environmental, and health disparities.

Three grants were awarded to cities within District 7:

  • Champlin: $19,807 to remove 35 ash trees, plant 35 replacement trees, and treat 35 ash trees.
  • Minnetrista: $7,325 to establish a gravel-bed nursery.
  • Plymouth: $20,500 to create an urban forest management plan.

Grants awarded to nonprofit organizations and schools

Grants to nonprofit organizations and schools are used to engage communities in planting trees, remove and replace ash trees, conduct tree-related education, complete tree inventories, and hold Arbor Day celebrations.

One grant was awarded to a nonprofit in District 7:

  • Missions: $9,990 to remove 4 ash trees and plant 6 replacement trees in Plymouth.

Learn more about these grants and see a full list of grants awarded.

For more information, contact trees@hennepin.us.

Now Is The Time to Get Flu & COVID-19 Shots

Vaccines

Protect yourself against flu and COVID-19. October is a great time to get both flu and COVID-19 shots.

Flu and COVID-19 shots are safe and effective at reducing your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death by providing immune protection that lasts several months. You can get both shots at the same time.

Check with your health care provider or local pharmacy to schedule appointments today. Or visit Vaccines.gov to find a location near you.

Learn more about how COVID vaccines work on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

Hennepin County in the News

Recent stories featuring Hennepin County leaders and programs.

About District 7

district 7 map

The 7th District serves the cities of 
Champlin, Corcoran, Dayton, Greenfield, Independence, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetrista, Southern Mound, Rogers,
St. Bonifacius, Hanover, Northwest Plymouth, and Rockford.

Contact us

Kevin Anderson
Commissioner, 7th District

Amy Van Schepen
Policy Director
612-543-1273

Clara Severson
District Director
612-596-9040

hennepin.us/anderson

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