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It's a wrap! On December 12th we closed our final board meeting of the year, and I know that this year will go down as one of the most impactful in recent memory. This $2.675 billion approved budget prioritizes deep investments into affordable housing and our Hennepin County workforce, while also maintaining innovative programming borne out of pandemic response and recovery.
As the Vice Chair of the County Board, and Chair of the budget process, I am proud to have helped shepherd this budget to completion. Thank you, to our staff and administration for bringing this to summation — we couldn’t do this without you. The wins that we marked this year are too numerous to count, but here are some of the moments that stood out to me, my colleagues, and staff:
• Naloxone became available for all paramedics and county employees to reverse opioid overdose, as well as the training to administer this life saving medication.
• Our "Homeless to Housing" program surpassed 650 residents who were permanently housed, with 94 percent of individuals enrolled not re-entering our homelessness response system.
• "See Mental Health" campaign received over 161 million impressions through traditional and social media channels.
• Hennepin County received 24 national awards through National Association of Counties and similar partners through our innovative programming and initiatives.
• We finalized and published our Zero Waste Plan to guide our path towards greater waste diversion in the metro, and passed a BAR to receive staff research and examine how we responsibly and effectively close HERC, and do so in a flexible timeline between 2028-2040
• We continued to deeply fund affordable housing, single room occupancy (SROs), and one-on-one homelessness response measures to make homelessness more brief, infrequent, and non-recurring
Thank you partnering with us at Hennepin County throughout 2023, and we look forward to the work at hand for 2024! Happy Holidays, and happy new year!
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What's happening at Hennepin County and across the district:
Make sure to follow me on Twitter! 👉 @HennepinDebbie
The Hennepin County Board is recruiting volunteers for 30 advisory board positions.
Each fall, the board accepts applications from residents interested in volunteer service positions on advisory boards, commissions, councils and special task forces. Appointees advise commissioners and help set policy on a variety of topics including mental health, economic support and development, workforce and employment opportunities, racial equity, diversity and inclusion, and so much more.
Deadline to apply is December 29. Appointments will be made in the first quarter of 2024.
Learn more and apply at hennepin.us/advisoryboards
Advisory board openings:
- Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council
- Community Action Partnership
- Capital Budgeting Task Force
- County Extension U of M
- Human Resources Board
- Library Board
- Mental Commitment Attorney Panel
- Racial Equity Advisory Council
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Board
Watershed board openings:
- Lower MN River Watershed District
- Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
On December 15th, county commissioner representatives of the Minnesota Resource Recovery Association (MRRA) provided input and added to the policy discussion around waste, climate, and energy with the Governor's Office. We discussed a wide range of important topics, including zero waste initiatives, clean energy alternatives, SCORE grants, extended producer responsibility in packaging, and the harms of PFAS.
I look forward to a continued partnership with both Governor Tim Walz and the State Legislature in assuring that local counties have the material resources we need to make substantial strides in these areas. It will take us all — at the literal and figurative table, to move us towards zero waste, reduce our carbon footprint, expand equity in EJ communities, and bring enhanced responsibility to producers in our complex waste system.
A huge congratulations is in order for IT Central Services at Hennepin County. Thanks to their innovation during the pandemic, the county is saving more than a million dollars a year.
Before the pandemic, Hennepin County departments relied on external print shops for the most complicated print jobs, such as large format posters and banners, digital cutting services and softcover book bindings. Now, all these printing capabilities are available through IT Central Services, resulting in savings of more than $1.2 million in 2022 alone.
Through using federal pandemic ARPA dollars to purchase equipment, and relying on environmentally sustainable practices and methods that do not produce chemical waste, Hennepin County can now boast one of the best in-house print shops in the country. Congrats!
Your voice on transportation issues is needed. The Active Transportation Committee (ATC), which advises the county board and staff on promoting and expanding biking, walking, and rolling for safe and convenient transportation and recreation in Hennepin County, has open seats whose terms begin in 2024.
Each commissioner appoints two representatives to represent their district for a three-year term. This year, the representatives for Districts 5 are up for nomination.
You don’t need to be an expert in all things biking, walking, and rolling, but you must:
- Live in the district for which you are applying to represent (check here for your district)
- Be interested in promoting biking, walking, and rolling
- Make a commitment to attend and participate in monthly meetings (currently 4 to 6 p.m. every third Monday)
Apply online at: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/atc-application
Here are several resources to update yourself and your family on road construction projects happening across the district and the entire metro area.
Hennepin County construction projects
Metropolitan Council weekly construction update
MnDOT- Metro Area State highway and bridge projects
Can’t get enough of holiday light displays? Enjoy all the best that the Twin Cities have to offer, and get an eyeful without having to keep an eye on the road — thanks to our Holiday Lights motorcoach tours!
Learn more here.
Join us for a fun evening saying goodbye to the old year, and welcoming the new one. Activities include a campfire, craft, stories, short hike, stargazing, and S’mores. Registration required.
Check out events happening at a library near you. Filter for specific areas, age groups, and different types of event to find something unique and specific to you and your family!
Learn more at Hennepin County Library events.
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Whether it's a housing crisis, energy assistance question, or child protection concern, we are here to help you navigate these and other issues.
Please call our office at 612-348-7885 or contact us to seek assistance or ask a question.
Contact
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
Hennepin County District 5
Bloomington | Eden Prairie | Richfield
612-348-7885
Graham Faulkner
Policy Director
612-348-7885
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