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Dear District 6 neighbors,
I want to begin by congratulating our wonderful Minnesota Lynx WNBA team for their amazing season. It was such a thrill to watch them– You make our state proud! Also, I hope District 6 parents and kids have a safe and fun Halloween next week! I’m excited to get out there with my kids!
I’m also pleased to announce that my office will be hosting our second District 6 Community Coffee event next Friday, November 1st at the Edina Senior Center. If you missed the first one, this event will be an opportunity for you to come learn more about what the county is doing and to share your thoughts with me on the proposed 2025 budget, or any other issues that are important to you. We will be providing coffee, donuts, and good conversation! I would love to see you there!
At the county, we’ve been continuing to hear budget presentations from various departments on their proposed 2025 budget. This week, we heard presentations on Capital Budget and Fees, Resident Services, and Operations. Previously, we received presentations on Health, Human Services, Disparity Reduction, and Public Works. These budgets aim to put Hennepin County residents first, improve our services which reduce disparities and eliminate inequities, and create opportunity for all. To that end, we would love to hear your input on the budgets! Members of the public will be able to call in to record a comment that will be played for the board at the following budget hearing. The line will be open for four hours starting at the end of each budget hearing. That number is 612-688-3545. (Note: participants must share their first and last name, and limit their comments to 2 minutes).
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On October 18, 2024, a Hennepin County courier vehicle was photographed at Edina City Hall during a ballot transfer pick-up. The photograph showed the vehicle’s rear door ajar with ballot transfer cases inside. The protocol for transporting ballots is that they are to be secured at all times and Hennepin County has alerted its courier of this incident.
Hennepin County has reviewed the incident and determined that all expected ballots have been accounted for and found no evidence of tampering with sealed transfer cases. This is done by comparing the ballots received from the courier with the record in the Statewide Voter Registration System for all absentee ballots accepted by cities. The comparison demonstrated a 100% match and this step is routine in the ballot integrity process, occurring with every transfer.
Staff have inspected individual ballots and determined that absentee ballot envelopes within the cases were received in sealed condition as well. This inspection is also a routine election integrity process.
Ballot transfer protocols ensure that every individual absentee ballot is tracked from issuance to acceptance, ensuring the integrity of absentee process, whether ballots are cast in-person or by mail.
Hennepin County Auditor Daniel Rogan: "Election security is of utmost importance, and Hennepin County will reinforce its transfer protocols with all staff and vendors. An incident like this underscores the value of strong chain-of-custody processes, so that risk can be addressed and integrity can be verified." Our Elections Department has devoted significant time and attention to verifying and confirming that election integrity was not jeopardized and this will not happen again. Police footage also verifies that the vehicle was not approached by anyone but the courier.
Recently, my office hosted Mayors and City Managers from all 16 cities in Hennepin County District 6 for breakfast! It was a productive morning discussing all the ways the county can partner and support our local municipalities!
Thank you to Mr. Harris, Superintendent of the Hennepin County Adult Correctional Facility in Plymouth, for giving Commissioner Anderson, myself and our staff a tour last week. I valued learning how the work release program operates and future projects to ensure we are supporting residents thrive, especially after they leave the facility.
I also had the opportunity to tour Tubman in Minneapolis recently– where they Minnesotans’ immediate needs for safety and healing. Thank you Heather and Jennifer for the tour!
I value your partnership to help Hennepin County residents with support in crisis, safety plans, legal services, clinical, mental, and chemical health support, and school based prevention.
If you are in need of help or services, you can contact the 24-hour crisis & resource line at 612-825-0000.
I also attended another meeting of the Metro Mosquito Control District Board with District 4 Commissioner Angela Conley. We learned all about cattail mosquitos and how we treat them prior to the Winter months to ensure we control the populations and protect public health for next Summer!
My office's high school Internship for Day is BACK...no longer at the Capitol but now at the County!
This internship is open to high school students of all grades that live or attend school in District 6!
Please encourage students to apply - this will be a great experience for students to learn the inner workings of County government and also how it interacts with State and Federal government!
This internship will be offered in January, February and March - dates and details can be found in the application.
Please share with students to apply on the link below:
2025 Application for Intern for a Day with Hennepin County Commissioner Heather Edelson (google.com)
Hennepin County effectively ends veteran homelessness
Hennepin County has achieved a major milestone – effectively ending homelessness among veterans.
We announced the news at a press conference on October 15 that Hennepin County and our partners are housing and helping veterans overcome homelessness at a higher rate than veterans are coming into the homelessness system. Our systems ensure that veteran homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring.
While we know that much remains to be done, we are celebrating alongside Hennepin County employees and leaders, our partners, and elected officials at the local, state and federal levels.
Effectively ending veteran homelessness does not mean veterans do not ever experience homelessness, but that when veterans do become homeless, our system is prepared to quickly respond and move them back into permanent housing.
Federal benchmarks for achieving this designation are set and confirmed by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Hear from Navy veteran Alyssa Koeppen about her journey to permanent housing. Watch the video
We need your help to shape our Toward Zero Death (TZD) action plan
Hennepin County is developing a comprehensive plan to eliminate serious injuries and deaths along Hennepin County roads. Now through the end of fall, we are engaging with residents to gather feedback as we develop a plan to improve safety for all people walking, riding, rolling, using transit or driving.
There are two ways you can share your feedback using BeHeard Hennepin
County leaders join Indigenous Peoples Task Force in celebrating groundbreaking for new arts and wellness center
The Indigenous Peoples Task Force (IPTF) celebrated a groundbreaking Oct. 16 for its new center for culture, arts and wellness called Mikwanedun Audisookon, which translates to “remember our teachings” in Ojibwe. Once built, the new center in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis will feature a community café and commercial kitchen that will serve food grown in gardens surrounding the building and a new black box theater for youth-led performances. “Once completed this new building won’t be just a building. It will enhance and expand the vital community services that you are already delivering with a special focus on culturally relevant wellness and arts programming,” said Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando. “It’s more than just a project and building. It’s absolutely a commitment in terms of our relationship moving forward.” Hennepin County is proud to have supported Mikwanedun Audisookon with a $750,000 Community Investment Initiative award. The initiative was created to advance economic recovery and increase long-term economic opportunity in Hennepin County communities most significantly impacted by the pandemic.
Grants are available for community-based waste prevention projects
Community zero waste grants provide funding to community-based organizations to develop and lead waste prevention and diversion projects.
Examples of projects could include community-led swaps, repair clinics, special material collections, and recycling or organics drop-off sites that address waste programming gaps or culturally specific needs.
Eligible applicants include:
- Community-based organizations located in Hennepin County that are registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
- Non-profit organizations that demonstrate community partnership and aim to expand zero-waste capacities in underserved areas of Hennepin County.
Applicants may apply for up to $100,000 per year for up to 3 years to implement projects that advance the county’s zero-waste goals. There is no minimum grant award. Review the grant flyer (PDF) and the 2024 community zero waste grant guidelines (PDF) to learn more. Applications are due on Wednesday, December 4 at 2 p.m.
National non-profit Invisible People highlights Hennepin County’s work on homelessness and affordable housing
Watch the documentary: https://youtu.be/yq1C8l4uSZc
Hennepin County is facing a housing crisis. And yet, together with our partners, we’re making progress toward our goal of making homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring.
The national nonprofit Invisible People chose to highlight Hennepin County as a follow-up to their popular video on Finland’s work to end homelessness. Hennepin County’s model of prevention and support involves a communitywide system that prioritizes people and their unique needs and strengths.
The documentary showcases the firsthand stories of county residents and staff as they navigate the difficult road to safe, affordable housing.
Invisible People was founded by Mark Horvath, a documentarian who has experienced homelessness himself. Horvath began interviewing homeless people in 2008 and sharing their experiences on his YouTube channel. Since then, his videos have been viewed millions of times, making Horvath a defining voice in reshaping the public narrative around homelessness.
Elevate Hennepin advising ‘a huge help’ for Perfect Piece Sweets Co.
When Melanie Lewis started Perfect Piece Sweets Company, she knew everything about desserts, but not much about business. Coming out of the restaurant industry, she spent more time in the kitchen than the office.
“When I first started the business, I knew nothing about business,” said Melanie. “When you're running your own business, it’s like where do I start?”
She started with support from the network Elevate Hennepin advisors. They helped her develop a plan, build an accounting system, and start her business.
Hear her story about starting Hopkins-based Perfect Piece Sweets in her own words and see her delectable treats.
Watch the video at ElevateHennepin.org.
Hennepin County gets high praise from national entrepreneurship expert
Entrepreneurship can act as a catalyst for economic growth, innovation, and personal empowerment. Yet, as Right to Start founder Victor Hwang highlights, there are numerous barriers for entrepreneurs.
"Business is hard," Victor said. "Every year, roughly 10% of businesses fail, and after five years, about half remain standing."
Here in Hennepin Count, Elevate Hennepin offers collaborative, customized support, which Victor called out as unique.
“Very few counties do that,” said Victor. “Just know how rare that is and how special it is, and the resources they provide you are very significant.”
Read why a new model economic development is so focused on entrepreneurs and how Hennepin County is addressing the challenges head on.
Removing Barriers to Entrepreneurship Insights from Victor Hwang | Elevate Hennepin
Don’t let your pumpkins go to waste
When you clean up from Halloween, don’t let your pumpkins go to waste! Compost pumpkins by putting them in your organics recycling cart or bringing them to an organics recycling drop-off. Pumpkins are great fuel for compost, which is used to make soil and landscapes healthy. Before composting, remove all candles, candle wax, paint, and other decorations.
You can also check to see if your city is offering any special drop-off events. Here are a few upcoming events:
Pumpkin recycling at Brooklyn Park Central Park
November 1 through 10 at Central Park, 8440 Regent Avenue North, Brooklyn Park
This drop-off is open to Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, and New Hope residents.
Richfield Pumpkin Smash
Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at Veterans Park, 6335 Portland Avenue, Richfield
This event is open to Richfield residents.
Edina Pumpkin Smash and Bash
Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at Countryside Park, 6240 Tracy Avenue, Edina
This event is open to everyone!
Birth Justice Collaborative
The Birth Justice Collaborative was launched in 2022, when four African American and American Indian led organizations partnered with Hennepin County to engage their communities in co-designing strategies to improve birth outcomes for their communities. We are now using that knowledge and wisdom to implement five priority strategies. The video created by the collaborative provides a more in-depth explanation of this work.
To learn more, visit the birthjusticecollaborative.com.
National lead poisoning prevention week: October 20-26
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is a call to bring together individuals, organizations, tribal, and local governments to help reduce childhood exposure to lead.
Lead exposure is still an issue that impacts families in Hennepin County. Every year, more than 100 children in Hennepin County are found to have high blood lead levels, enough to damage their health. Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for young children.
Lead poisoning is preventable. Hennepin County offers free in-home lead testing and up to $15,000 in lead removal home improvement grants for eligible households. The county’s trusted lead experts have years of experience detecting and removing lead paint—since the program began in 2004, the county’s Healthy Homes team has completed 5,374 lead removal home projects. The team also holds an average of 50 lead poisoning prevention events per year, reaching 8,000 people.
Watch how Hennepin County Lead Risk Assessors perform an in-home lead test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f4DT2ARTag
Quick facts about lead poisoning
- No blood-lead level in children is safe.
- The government banned lead paint in 1978, so houses built before then may contain lead.
- A common cause of lead exposure is from accumulated dust, especially in and around old windows.
- Lead poisoning can lead to brain and nervous system damage, slowed growth and development, and learning and behavior problems.
- Many common household products contain lead, including old toys, ceramics, and certain imported spices, including turmeric and chili powder.
For more information on the county’s lead poisoning prevention work and to see if you qualify for a $15,000 home improvement grant, visit the county’s webpage or call 612-543-4182
We want to ensure that our residents are as informed as they can be with County business. To that end, you can view our County Board and Committee meetings here, as well as view past meetings. Please reach out if you have any questions about viewing meetings online or in-person. As always, I encourage you to reach out to me with any other 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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