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Dear District 6 neighbors,
I hope everyone had a safe and fun Fourth of July and you are enjoying the beautiful Minnesota Summer! Time is flying by, and I am finishing week 6 as your Hennepin County Commissioner – my office has been busy meeting with City Managers and Mayors, nonprofits and advocacy groups to learn more about the issues impacting District 6.
Looking ahead, this Fall we start to work on the budget. The Hennepin County Administrator will propose a tax levy by September 17, 2024 – please know my office will be sending this levy proposal out once I understand the needs of the county moving forward.
Our office is planning to host a series of coffees in District 6 this Fall - we will be sending out the dates by August once they are finalized with details and a location.
If you would like us to post about a District 6 event in our newsletter please let my Senior Policy Aide Dan Dodge know by emailing content to daniel.dodge@hennepin.us.
WeCAN Visit
This week, we visited the non-profit Western Communities Action Network (WeCAN) in Mound. WeCAN provides human services to individuals and families to empower them and help them reach stability and self-sufficiency.
WeCan, like many remarkable non profits that are helping improve the lives of Hennepin County residents --is a non-profit that was started by church ladies who saw a need in the community.
Today, WeCan helps provide Meals on Wheels, a food shelter with choice, diapers, toys with choice for kids, school supplies, connections to rental assistance and mental health.
I am a huge fan of the vital services they offer and truly look forward to our partnership in the weeks, months and years to ensure we get residents connected to all the switches and supplies needed to live a life of meaning!
Thank you to Executive Director Christopher Anderson for showing us around! You can learn more about WeCAN and ways you can help here.
Meetings with Advocates
It was great to meet with community members from ISAIAH on affordable housing, emergency shelters, climate change and energy costs that are causing housing instability. I left the meeting with appreciation for these residents that care for others humanity. I look forward to our partnership to ensure all Hennepin County residents have access to safe, affordable, stable housing!
National Association of Counties
This month, I traveled to Florida to attend the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference. It was great to learn more about mental health innovations, transit, and elections at the County level!
St. David’s Center Tour
Our office had the opportunity to tour St. David’s for Child and Family Development in Minnetonka. It was great to learn more about their mission-driven work and the valuable services they provide to families across the County and Minnesota.
I am thankful for all of the work that the staff at St. David’s does to help youth and families thrive, and I look forward to our continued partnership!
Meetings with Mayors
This month, we continued our series of meetings with the Mayors and City Managers of District 6. Thank you to all of the Mayors and City Managers that we’ve met with so far! We’re looking forward to partnering with you to tackle the issues most impacting our district.
 Excelsior Mayor Todd Carlson and City Manager Kristi Luger
 Tonka Bay Mayor Adam Jennings and City Administrator Dan Tolsma
 Shorewood Mayor Jennifer Labadie
 Long Lake Mayor Charlie Miner and City Administrator Scott Weske
Law Library and Intern for a Day
My team and I toured the Law Library in the Hennepin County Government Center as we plan for our High School Intern for a Day Program!
Just as my former House office hosted 600 high school students in 6 years for a non-partisan internship at the Capitol - I am proud to report that the legacy of providing youth opportunities to see and experience the day-to-day functioning of their government will continue here at Hennepin County!
Details will be coming out soon to share with any and all students you know in District 6!
  
Apply to Serve on Xcel Energy’s Environmental Justice Accountability Board
Xcel Energy is convening a new Environmental Justice Accountability Board (EJAB) under Minnesota Public Utilities Commission docket E002/M-22-266. EJAB will continue the Company’s work since 2022 with their Equity Stakeholder Advisory Group, which sought to develop new strategies to reduce energy burden for low-income customers, promote equitable access to energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, and diversify the energy workforce.
Xcel Energy aims to create a board that reflects the diverse racial/cultural/ethnic backgrounds and Tribal affiliations of communities they serve, including both urban and rural parts of its service territory, and includes members with a demonstrated commitment to equity and environmental justice. Experience with energy programs is not required, but they hope to have some members with such experience, especially in programs designed to serve low-income customers. The primary purpose of EJAB is to help Xcel Energy better understand and serve their low-income and BIPOC customers, so they want the EJAB to reflect those voices.
Xcel Energy is accepting applications through July 31, 2024 to serve on the EJAB. For more information and to receive an application form, please email ejab@xcelenergy.com.
Stay Connected!
In any elected job, the best part is hearing from the people you represent. I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions or feedback you’d like to share at heather.edelson@hennepin.us or 612-248-6885. You can also follow me on my official Facebook page for updates.
Sincerely,
Heather Edelson
County Commissioner - District 6
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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Heather Edelson
Commissioner
6th District
Daniel Dodge
Sr. Policy Aide
612-348-3168
Cole Roepke
Jr. Policy Aide & Scheduler
612-248-6885
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