 Trees are an incredibly important component of healthier communities. In Hennepin County, we treat trees as important infrastructure to be invested in. As we fully enjoy this beautiful summer, our office is highlighting all of the great forestry work that has come out of our Energy and Environment department. This work is paid for through federal grants and revenue from the sale of energy produced by the HERC facility.
Check out what they've been up to and what we have to look forward to below.
Healthy Tree Canopy Grants in District 7
Hennepin County offers grants to cities, affordable housing properties,
schools, and nonprofit organizations to enhance the county’s tree canopy.
The goal of the program is to support efforts to educate the public on tree
care and the importance of trees, combat threats to trees from invasive
insects and disease, and promote the development of a more diverse
and resilient tree canopy.
2022
- City of Champlin - $25,630 to remove and replace ash trees
- Dayton Community Foundation - $3,096 to hold an Arbor Day celebration
- YMCA of the North - $10,000 to engage with campers and plant trees in campgrounds in Minnetrista and Loretto
2023
- City of Champlin - $19,807 for ash tree removal, treatment and replacement
- City of Minnetrista - $7,325 to establish a gravel-bed nursery
- City of Plymouth - $20,500 to create an urban forest management plan
2024
- Chelsea Mews Homeowners Association, Plymouth - $6,711 to remove and replace ash trees
- Tree Trust, Maple Grove - $10,000 to provide educational sessions and plant trees at Rush Creek Elementary
- Tree Trust, Countywide - $10,000 to provide a series of educational events across the county
Planned Plantings in District 7
Below is a list of recent and planned plantings by county forestry staff along with assistance from DOCCR's Sentencing to Service and Forestry Pathways crews and other county staff volunteers.
2023
- Kirwin Easement reforestation (Independence) – 11,000 trees
- Medina PW facility Reforestation – 8,000 trees
- CSAH 144 ROW screening seedling planting (Dayton) – 200 trees
- Holy Name Lake seedlings (Medina) – 300 trees
- US Hwy 12 and County Rd 92 intersection reconstruction planting (Independence) – 26 trees
- County Rd 109 (Maple grove)- 167 trees
2024
- US Hwy 12 and County Rd 92 intersection reconstruction planting (continued) (Independence) – 14 trees
- Slavec Easement (independence) – 400 (in addition to over 1,000 trees and shrubs planted in a different portion of the easement in 2022)
- Gillette Easement (Minnetrista) – 281 trees
- MN Shade Tree Association Festival of Trees seedling giveaway (Baker Park Reserve) – 350 trees
- Maple Grove Days Festival seedling giveaway
- Medina PW facility additional reforestation – 825 trees
- Possible buckthorn replacement seedling plantings this fall on city-owned natural areas in Maple Grove
Seedling and Tree Sales
We sold over 8,000 seedlings to residents county-wide at cost and sold approximately 1,500 trees wholesale to cities – Plymouth alone bought 1,000 trees!
MnDOT Partnership
We’re also very excited about a new agreement we’ve entered into with MnDOT that will streamline access for us to plant trees on their ROWs countywide. We believe it’s the first of its kind in the State.
This month, my colleagues and I joined Commissioners and staff from across the country in Tampa, Florida for the 2024 Annual National Association of Counties Conference. Here's a brief look at what we got up to.
 Hennepin County is one of 3000 counties that participate in the National Association of Counties.
 It's always nice to learn alongside my colleagues Chair Fernando and Commissioner Edelson.
 I am honored to be appointed a Vice Chair of the NACo Health Steering Committee.
 I had the chance to attend a workshop called Fostering Civility in Public Discourse, where we discussed the "Bridging Divides Toolkit" and how to apply its strategies to real-world challenges.
We've been all over the district this month! Here's just a taste of what my office has been up to.
 Some of our Hennepin County Libraries are hosting llamas this summer! I already got to meet a llama at the Champlin library - now it's your turn. The llamas will be in Westonka this weekend. Check out the link below for more details:
Events | Hennepin County Library | BiblioCommons
 Congratulations to Emagine Theatres, the I94 Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Rogers on the remodel of the community's movie theater! It was great to see Rogers Councilmembers Kevin Jullie, Amy Enga, Shannon Klick, and Mayor Rick Ihli.
 My office organized a tour of the county's Traffic Management Center in Medina, where we manage the flow of traffic at county road intersections. Thanks Reps. Bahner and Robbins for joining us!
To report a traffic signal problem, visit this site: Traffic signal reporting (hennepin.us)
 As a member of the Active Living Committee, I joined a Suburban Complete Streets bike tour in Richfield. Richfield's recently completed 2023 Active Transportation Action Plan codifies a vision for a system with quiet, low-stress, enjoyable routes for people to get around to their daily stops. I enjoyed getting to understand how the smaller communities can take advantage of their unique attributes to support healthy and safe communities.
I was invited to say a few words at the County Veteran Service Officers annual meeting at the Magnus Veterans Foundation. I am so proud of the work our CVSOs do and was honored to have the opportunity to thank them again.
A special shout out to Captain Bob Jaskowiak at the Magnus Veterans Foundation, who met with me earlier this month to talk about the great work that Magnus is doing and how they want to grow. Our community is so incredibly lucky to have this organization in our district!
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The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office’s annual school supply donation drive has begun. We’re collecting school supplies to distribute to high-needs families to help them start the school year off right. Look for these donation boxes to support students in our community! Donate school supplies now through Friday, August 2nd at the following locations.
- Maple Grove Library (8001 Main St N, Maple Grove)
- V3 Sports (701 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis)
- Minneapolis City Hall lobby near room 6 (350 South 5th Street, Minneapolis)
- Water Patrol Headquarters (4141 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN 55384)
- Enforcement Services Division (9401 83rd Avenue North, Brooklyn Park)
- Government Center near A Side weapons screening (300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis)
- Public Safety Facility (401 South 4th Avenue, Minneapolis)
You can also shop our Amazon wish list 'Back to School Jamboree 2024' at this link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/171ZDFLJY1O3D?ref_=wl_share
 Serving on the board of the Mosquito Control District and on the executive committee means I am privy to a lot of information about how mosquitos and other harmful pests are managed in the metro.
Earlier this month, my office teamed up with Commissioner Edelson and her staff to tour the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's Plymouth office. We learned about all of the bugs MMCD treats for, where and how they distribute treatment, and even got a drone demonstration!
Did you know that MMCD will pick up your old tires, which are notorious breeding spots for mosquitoes? Learn more here: Tire Recycling - Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (mmcd.org)
Check out some recent updates from MMCD below!
Mosquito Control staff serve as bait so you don’t have to
The Star Tribune recently published a story about how the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District does surveillance for mosquitoes to determine the biggest problem areas and the most effective methods of treatment. One of these methods involves a staff member standing outside during peak mosquito feeding hours and using a net to capture any mosquitoes that swoop in for a meal.
Read the full article at the Star Tribune’s website
Mosquito numbers are up compared to last year, but below the 10-year average
Despite a wetter than normal season, mosquito numbers are still below the 10-year average for the Twin Cities in mid-July. The average number of mosquitoes collected in traps is up compared to the past three years, when the area experienced drought, but not quite back to what would be expected with a year of above-average rainfall. This is primarily because two of the most rain dependent species – that summer floodwater mosquito and the cattail mosquito – haven’t recovered from three years of drought yet.
Learn more in the early July mosquito update from MMCD
Seven tips for avoiding mosquitoes and ticks while camping
It’s a great time of year to get outside and spend a weekend camping or just go for a long hike. Various studies show that time in nature is good for physical and mental well-being. However, it’s inevitable that time spent in the great outdoors will like mean encounters with ticks and mosquitoes. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District has provided some advice on how to prevent these pests from ruining your trip.
Tips for mosquito and tick protection while camping from the MMCD
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Families and caregivers should prepare for changes to the Minnesota Child Passenger Safety Law. Starting August 1, new guidance on child seats, booster seats and seat belts go into effect that may change how children ride in a vehicle. Every driver who transports children under age 18 in a vehicle will be required to have them restrained in a child safety seat or with a seat belt.
The updated law gives more guidance to parents and caregivers as they strive to keep kids safe. Prior to the changes, state law required car seats to be used according to manufacturer’s instructions on height and weight. Now, instead of just relying on the child’s size, the law specifies ages for rear- and forward-facing car seats, booster seats and seat belts, subject to weight and height depending on the child seat manufacturer. In addition, the booster seat requirement has been increased from 8 to 9 years old.
To learn more about age-specific requirements, visit the Minnesota Safety Council’s website.
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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.
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Contact us
Kevin Anderson
Commissioner, 7th District
Ketki Varsha
Policy Director
612-559-4221
Clara Severson
District Director
612-596-9040
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