BOARD NEWS
June 12, 2012
Hennepin County Medical Examiner Re-appointed
 The Board unanimously re-appointed Dr. Andrew M. Baker as county Medical Examiner for another four years. Dr. Baker is recognized nationally for his expertise and leadership, and is currently president of the National Association of Medical Examiners. More information is available about the Medical Examiner and services provided by the Medical Examiner Office.
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Transit-Oriented Development Loans
 The Board, acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA), approved $2 million in Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) funding for six projects.
The TOD program supports multi-jurisdictional housing and re-development along transit corridors in the county. This news release has information about the projects funded, criteria used to qualify projects and more. |
Road Closure Coming to Gleason Lake Drive in Minnetonka and Wayzata Starting July 9
The area affected is CSAH 15 from north of TH 12 to west of Vicksburg Lane and is expected to last two months. A marked detour will be provided using Highway 12, Interstate 494 and Carlson Parkway.
The improvements include construction of a retaining wall to stablize the roadway embankment, installation of sanitary sewer, sanitary sewer lift station upgrades, storm sewer installation, and construction of a bituminous sidewalk.
Green Partners Environmental Education Grants
 The Board awarded funding to 13 organizations through the Green Partners Environmental Education Program to implement projects that empower residents to reduce waste, increase recycling, reduce toxicity, conserve energy and protect water quality. A list of grant winners and links to specifics about the education program is available here.
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Domestic Violence Programming Assistance
The Board approved an agreement with ECHO Minnesota to provide domestic violence programming services to immigrant communities in the Twin Cities over the next seven months. Echo Minnesota is a multi-language nonprofit based in St. Paul that provides messages on health, safety, civic engagement and emergency readiness to communities whose primary language is not English.
Volunteers Appointed to Advisory Boards
- Mayor Mark Steffenson of Maple Grove was appointed to serve on the Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin Board.
- Edward Luna, Carrie Scheffler, Tony Scallon, and Christine Dressel were appointed to serve on the Workforce Investment Board.
June 26, 2012
The Interchange Design-Build Contract Awarded to Knutson Construction
 Opening in 2014, The Interchange will provide a regional multi-modal transportation hub and community gathering place. For more information, visit www.theinterchange.net. Design and construction is scheduled to begin this July and will generate more than 300 full-time jobs through the construction period.
The Interchange will connect approximately 500 trains arriving and departing daily via Hiawatha LRT, Central Corridor and Northstar Commuter Rail, as well as more than 1,900 daily bus trips, and bike and walking trails.
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Hopkins to Join County 911 Dispatch System
 The Board approved a resolution that directs the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office to provide public safety dispatch services to Hopkins on or around August 1, 2012. Hopkins currently handles approximately 21,500 calls annually. Future calls will be handled by the dispatch facility in Golden Valley until the new 911 emergency communications facility in Plymouth is up and running in 2014. Details are available in the news release.
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Environmental Response Fund Grants Approved
The grants will clean up contaminated soil, renovate or create affordable rental housing, manage storm water, allow commercial development of vacant properties and clean up asbestos and lead-based paint. The awards will assist in the renovation or construction of 532 affordable housing units.
Since 2001, 264 grants have been awarded totaling $37 million. That $37 million has leveraged another $1.7 billion in privately funded development costs and produced a $433 million increase in property values.
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Stable Housing Helps Kids Succeed in School
 The Board approved an agreement, including $25,000 in funding, with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) for It's All About the Kids - a collaborative program of the Minneapolis Schools, the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and LSS. It's All About the Kids is a component of the Hennepin/Minneapolis 10 year plan to end homelessness. The program is funded through a combination of federal, state, city and philanthropic sources.
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Volunteer Appointed to Workforce Investment Board
The Board re-appointed Bruce Krupnick to the Workforce Investment Board. This 27 member board develops and studies programs to provide jobs for unemployed persons in suburban Hennepin and Carver counties by increasing the involvement of the business community in employment and training.
For more information on advisory boards and to apply online, visit the Hennepin County website.
BOARD BRIEFINGS
In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the board often meets on Thursday mornings to receive "Board Briefings." These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made. Board Briefings occur in the Boardroom on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.
June 7, 2012
Aquatic Invasive Species — The Board received reports from County staff, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Christmas Lake Homeowners Association. County staff reported on a pilot project implemented by them at the North Arm Public Access on Lake Minnetonka using improved signage and other prompts to promote changed behavior by boaters and fishers regarding AIS. The DNR reviewed current law and recent legislative changes in their aquatic invasive species prevention program. Joe Shneider of the Christmas Lake Homeowners Association described steps being undertaken at the public access in Shorewood on Christmas Lake as well as the AIS program that has been implemented at Lake Tahoe. He shared his thoughts on how to create an effective AIS program.
June 21, 2012
Aging Initiative — The Board received a briefing on the County’s initiative on aging by staff from Research, Planning and Development. This effort has been undertaken in conjunction with other county departments, the University of Minnesota, cities and community members in order to understand and plan for the changes that will accompany the aging of the baby boomers. Potential impacts include changes in household composition (more childless couples and single person households), fewer workers, declining sales and income tax revenue, growing numbers of people with disabilities and dementia, different housing needs, and accommodations for an increasing number of senior drivers. It may even extend to areas like recycling (more seniors receiving medical care at home may mean more drug disposal at the end of the driveway rather than through secure disposal at institutional care facilities). The County is proactively attempting to anticipate service and other changes that may be necessary to respond to this demographic “iceberg.”
COUNTY CALENDAR
Absentee Voting Starts
The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 14. If you can’t make it to the polls to vote in the primary, absentee ballots are available beginning Friday, June 29, through Monday,August 13.
Review our Absentee Voting page for more information or call the Hennepin County Elections Division at 612-348-5151. |
PUBLIC HEARING
What: A public hearing was established to obtain public comment on amendments to County Ordinance No. 7 - Hazardous Waste Management.
The Hazardous Waste Management Ordinance was originally adopted in 1980 and amended in 2006. MN Statute requires when State rules are changed, the county must adopt the changes. Since 2006, two rule packages were adopted by the MN Pollution Control Agency, which requires amendments to the county's ordinance.
When: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 1:30 during the Public Works, Energy and Environment Committee.
Where: Hennepin County Government Center Boardroom - 24th floor, 300 S. 6th Street
COMMUNITY MEETING
Six Mile Creek Diagnostic Study Community Meeting
What: An overview of the Six Mile Creek diagnostic study and a discussion about actions the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is exploring to improve water quality.
The study will establish a baseline condition of the health of lakes and streams within the subwatershed and develop water quality improvement goals.
Six Mile Creek is a subwatershed located to the southwest of Lake Minnetonka that contains a series of interconnected lakes and streams that eventually drain into Lake Minnetonka's Halsted Bay.
When: Thursday, July 19, 2012 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Victoria City Hall - 7951 Rose Street, Victoria, MN
Information about the Six Mile Creek Diagnostic Study and to RSVP to attend the meeting is available here. |
