|
Dear District 6 Community Members,
It has been a tough two weeks for Minnesota with the heartbreaking loss of Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their beloved dog Gilbert. This past week, I went to visit Melissa, Mark and Gilbert lying in state at the Capitol with my twin sons. I also attended her funeral alongside hundreds of friends, family and colleagues. May their memory be a blessing.
This tragedy is a reminder that there is no place for political violence in our state. We must find a way to debate policy without harming each other and commit to a new type of politics in the name of the Hortman family.
My thoughts are also with Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who continue to recover from the horrific attack that took Melissa and Mark’s lives. May they find peace and strength in healing and may we all recommit ourselves to building a kinder, safer Minnesota.
As we head into July, I am wishing you and your family a Happy 4th of July celebration. Let us reflect on the ideals of freedom and democracy that bring us together by fostering respect, dialogue, and compassion. We can build a community that works for all of us; a place where everyone feels valued, heard, and included. May this Independence Day inspire us to renew our commitment to building a stronger, more united Hennepin County and Minnesota.
I’m grateful to represent District 6 on the Hennepin County Board and for these opportunities to connect and learn from our community as we look ahead to July.
If you would ever like to connect or learn more about the important work of the County, please feel free to email me at heather.edelson@hennepin.us and check out the Board and District 6 office updates below.
Sincerely,
 Remembering and honoring the legacies of Speaker Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman, and their dog Gilbert.
Hennepin County Board of Commissioners Meetings
An exciting update for those who are interested in monitoring Board activity: our meetings are now streamed and posted on YouTube! You can watch Board and Committee meetings at the Hennepin County channel here.
On June 26th, the Board held a briefing on the Hennepin County Housing Domain. We had the privilege of hosting staff specializing in housing to present to us on the state of housing in the County; we have made remarkable progress in this area in recent years, and as always, there is more progress to be made. You can view the Board Briefing on this page.
This past week, committees of the Hennepin County Board met to review potential Board actions. See below for some highlights on what we considered for full Board passage at our next full Board meeting, scheduled for July 8th.
✅ Treatment Courts Support: Received $716,878 from the State of Minnesota to continue partnerships with the Fourth Judicial District Court, including Drug Court and Mental Health Court programs.
✅ High-Risk Offender Supervision: Accepted $3,778,400 from the MN Department of Corrections for the Intensive Supervised Release (ISR) Program, which provides strict community supervision for high-risk individuals released from prison.
✅ Affordable Housing Preservation in Edina: Granted preliminary approval for tax-exempt housing revenue bonds to support rehabilitation of 129 affordable units at 3400 Parklawn Ave and 5010 Summit Ave. Project led by CommonBond Communities.
✅ Hopkins District Marketing: Approved negotiations for a Business District Initiative Grant with the City of Hopkins to promote its historic downtown and support BIPOC- and women-owned small businesses. The City of Hopkins will contribute $20,000.
✅ Bridge Replacement in Edina: Approved agreement with MnDOT to accept $1,102,517.06 in Local Bridge Replacement Program grant funds for the replacement of Bridge No. 4510 on Vernon Avenue over the Canadian Pacific Railroad. See below for a photo of the project:
✅ Loan Increase for Hennepin Healthcare: Progressed a proposal to increase a County loan to Hennepin Healthcare from $15 million to $20 million and extend the term from 5 to 10 years. The funds will support capital medical equipment purchases. If approved, the County Administrator will negotiate terms including a 4.0% interest rate and semi-annual repayments. This action does not authorize HHS to take on additional outside debt, which would require a separate County Board approval.
Commissioner Edelson in the Community
Juneteenth Celebration with the Hennepin County African American Employee Resource Group
It was wonderful to attend the Hennepin County African American Employee Resource Group’s Juneteenth celebration! This event served as an important opportunity to reflect on the legacy of Juneteenth in celebrating Black excellence, and we were able to share conversation and cookies from Cookie Cart (check them out!) with staff throughout the County. I hope you were all able to honor Juneteenth in your community as well.
Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Academy Panel
I was honored to be invited to speak with youth participating in the Hennepin County Sheriff Office’s Youth Leadership Academy. Hosted at the Water Patrol Headquarters in Spring Park, I invited former Rep. Dario Anselmo to join me in speaking to students on the importance of thoughtful and collaborative leadership, especially in today’s world. We received some excellent questions from these bright young students and it was an inspiring conversation. I appreciate the Sheriff’s Office for inviting me to speak, and thank you to former Rep. Anselmo for joining me!
Tour of Allina Mental Health and Addiction Center
Thank you to Joe and Tasha from Allina for giving my office a tour of your Outpatient Mental Health Center. It was inspiring to see how your team is connecting systems and reducing barriers to care, ensuring more people can access the mental health and addiction support they need. Your collaborative work truly makes a difference!
Brooklyn Park Recycling Center Visit
Last week, my office had the chance to tour the Hennepin County Recycling & Drop-off Facility in Brooklyn Park. It was a great opportunity to learn more about what can be recycled, where those materials go and how the process works to reduce waste and protect our environment.
Curious about what you can recycle at the Brooklyn Park or Bloomington locations, as well as their hours and costs? You can find more details here.
Note: Hazardous waste and batteries are completely free to drop off.
Hennepin County is also working with the Legislature to address the increasing volume and risks associated with lithium batteries. These batteries pose both safety and cost challenges, and we must take proactive steps in partnership with the private sector to ensure safer, more sustainable solutions moving forward.
Lunch with Hopkins Mayor Patrick Hanlon
It was great to have lunch with Hopkins Mayor Patrick Hanlon this week at Pink Ivy and catch up on collective work for our district! We even ran into the owner and chef of Pink Ivy, Michael Shaughnessy, while we were there. If you haven’t been yet, be sure to stop in - they elevate vegetables in a seriously delicious way! Check out their menu and more here.
Federal Government
HF 1, the spending bill labeled by President Trump as the "Big Beautiful Bill," was passed by the Senate today. The vote was a 50/50 tie broken by Vice President Vance's "Yes" vote to ensure passage, with three Republican Senators voting against it.
This bill raises serious concerns for Hennepin and surrounding counties, our state government, and families across Minnesota. By imposing stringent work-reporting requirements and reducing eligibility – cutting federal Medicaid funding by hundreds of billions and slashing SNAP by over $267 billion - this bill threatens to leave many low-income households without essential health coverage and food support. In addition, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the Senate's bill would add $3.3 trillion to federal deficits over the next 10 years.
Before the legislation is signed into law by the President, it must be voted on again by the U.S. House of Representatives. If you are concerned about this bill and its potentially catastrophic impacts on our residents and surrounding communities, reach out to your representatives in the House. Because this legislation is a Republican-led effort, it is most effective to reach out to the Republican members of our Minnesota congressional delegation. Find their information below:
- District 1: Rep. Brad Finstad
- Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 225-2472
- Rochester District Office: (507) 577-6140
- New Ulm District Office: (507) 577-6151
- District 6: Rep. Tom Emmer (House Majority Whip)
- Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 225-2331
- Otsego District Office: (763) 241-6848
- Chaska District Office: (952) 262-2999
- District 7: Rep. Michelle Fischbach
- Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 225-2165
- Moorhead District Office: (218) 422-2090
- Willmar District Office: (320) 403-6100
- District 8: Rep. Pete Stauber:
- Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 225-6211
- Hermantown District Office: (218) 481-6396
State Government
On June 9, 2025, Minnesota lawmakers convened for a one‑day special session, returning to the State Capitol at 10 a.m. to complete the remaining legislative work. The House and Senate passed 14 remaining bills, including all outstanding budget and policy provisions necessary to fund the state government.
By approximately 10:40 pm, the House completed its work. The Senate delivered its final votes around 2:00 am on June 10. Copies of the legislation passed during the June 9, 2025 Special Session can be found below:
Events in the Community
Save the Date: 2025 Hennepin County Master Gardener Volunteer Annual Houseplant Sale
Visit the the Hennepin County Master Gardener Houseplant Sale at Eisenhower Community Center on October 4th from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm! This event is a fund-raising project benefiting the Hennepin County Master Gardener program, University of Minnesota Extension Service. Find more information here.
2025 Hennepin County Master Gardener Learning Garden Tour
Explore ten inspiring gardens at the Hennepin County Master Gardener Learning Garden Tour, taking place on July 12th from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
This year’s self-guided tour highlights ten gardens across southwest Hennepin County, including the cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, and Wayzata. Each stop is a home garden of a Hennepin County Master Gardener volunteer and demonstrates landscapes that can be adapted to a wide variety of situations.
The gardens offer unique opportunities to learn about the latest trends and techniques, all backed by university-based research and emphasize gardening practices that are achievable in almost every setting and by the beginner or experienced gardener. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Friendly Reminder: Farmers’ Markets in District 6!
Farmers’ market season is upon us! District 6 is fortunate enough to have many farmers’ markets in our communities, and I am very much looking forward to attending them this summer and fall. Check out this year’s markets and be sure to stop by to support our local growers!
County Projects in District 6
Minnetonka - McGinty Road (County Road 16) Repaving is Complete
Hennepin County has completed repaving and safety improvements, and McGinty Road in Minnetonka is now open to traffic. You can expect:
- A smoother road with long-lasting pavement.
- Dedicated left turn lanes at intersections, rather than bypass lanes on the right.
- A new center median at Oak Lea Drive.
Be alert for minor work through mid-July. You'll see project staff completing final tasks, removing signs and equipment, and seeding new grass in the next few weeks. At times, crews will need to close a lane for safety. The current temporary lane markings will be replaced with permanent paint striping in July.
Mound - Westonka Library Closure
Westonka Library will close July 5, 2025, at 5 p.m., to make way for a brand-new library. The project is expected to take around a year and a half to complete. Patrons will be able to pick up their requested materials and drop off books at Mound City Hall beginning on Tuesday, July 8th. The new Westonka Library, that will better meet community needs for contemporary library service, will include:
- Early learning area for families
- Meeting spaces for students and groups of all ages
- Enhanced access to technology
- Focus on sustainability through net-zero energy
Interested in receiving future updates on the project? Subscribe to the Westonka Library updates email list or visit the Westonka Library building project page.
Hennepin County Resources
From the University of Minnesota Extension: Keeping teens safe online this summer
With school now out of session for many kids, the amount of time that teenagers spend on their phones each day is likely to increase exponentially, and there is much evidence to show that this can have a detrimental impact on kids. The University of Minnesota Extension has compiled some useful information and tips on how you can help reduce the amount of time teenagers in your life spend on screens this summer. Learn more from their website here.
FYI: New Boater Law Entering Effect July 1st
Attention boaters! A new Minnesota law is going into effect July 1st, 2025. Anyone 12 and up will be required to have a valid watercraft operator's permit in order to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft. Learn more by visiting this website or viewing the graphic below.
Stay Connected!
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 612-348-6885. You can also follow me on my official Facebook page for updates.
Sincerely,
Heather Edelson
County Commissioner, Hennepin County 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.
|
Heather Edelson
Commissioner
6th District
Raina Meyer
Policy Director
Clara Wicklund
Assistant to the Commissioner
Office Phone Number: 612-348-6885
|
