| A Note from the Commissioner:
To my fellow Ramsey County constituents,
As we move towards the close of 2017, I am reflecting on the work we have completed in Ramsey County this past year and what I look forward to working on in 2018.
One of my favorite things to do each year is to visit the City Councils in my district to share updates and get feedback from them. This is a great way for me to continue county-city partnerships that I am so proud of.
A notable partnership this year was the Little Canada and Ramsey County reconstruction of Centerville road. We received the 2017 Leaders in Local Government award for this partnership.
Other partnerships and collaborations we are working on with our cities include:
- 24/7 organics drop-off sites in Roseville and New Brighton (other cities welcome to inquire too!)
- effectively serving seniors in our community
- new community gardens
- Bicycle/Pedestrian trails, crosswalks and safe access points on county roads
- increased coordination between city and county parks for programming and facilities
I look forward to continuing to work with all of you in the New Year and wish all of you safe travels and a happy holiday season.
Construction Improvements to roundabouts on the Ramsey County System
A ribbon cutting was held for the County Road H and County Road I roundabouts to enhance traffic flow, increase safety for pedestrians, and allow access to the planned mixed-use development Rice Creek Commons.
Work is expected to begin on this site in 2019, and housing and early commercial construction could begin in 2020.
It’s very important to me to see improvements to Ramsey County roads to increase safety and allow for future development in the County and in my district.
Counties Band Together, Sue Opioid Manufacturers and Distributors
On November 30, county leaders assembled to announce that individual lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors will be coming forward and counties are looking for solutions that will work in their respective communities. Minnesota is not the only state to file lawsuits against opioid manufacturers. This is a national conversation, one that I have been a part of in my work with the National Association of Counties, where I serve on the Justice and Public Safety Steering committee of Law, Large Urban County Caucus and Healthy Counties Initiative Board.
Last year, NACo’s National City-County Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic came out with a report which covers ways in which local leadership can work on ending this crisis within our communities. Policy recommendations have been implemented through the Association in order to better address the needs of those suffering from opioid addiction and those who have pain management needs.
Ramsey County attorney John Choi is a part of this effort to move Ramsey County forward during this opioid crisis, to address the problems people are facing from this epidemic.
Read more here.
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Brighter Futures begin at Birth
This year I attended the second annual Bright Futures Begin at Birth event, which convened over 500 people from 200 organizations, aimed at sharing resources and partnering to give children the best start in life.
This initiative asserts that engaging with children and families at an early age can impact the child’s future learning and overall health. This has been discovered through extensive brain development research.
In collaboration with Greater Twin Cities United Way, Health Partners, and Bright Futures, this conversation has been moving along steadily and I am very excited about this program.
One tool that the initiative has created is Talk-a-doodle-doo:“Research tells us that talking and singing with babies each day helps build their brains. Playing, cooing, and talk-a-doodle-dooing makes all the difference.”
The next event taking place is the 2018 Children & Youth Issues Briefing on February 14, 2018 in Saint Paul. This event is hosted by Greater Twin Cities United Way and the Start Early Funders Coalition. Visit here to learn more.
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 OVALumination
The OVAL rink in Roseville is illuminated by rainbow holiday lights - visit this beautiful holiday spectacle surrounded by 300 trees. Admission is $6.00 and skate rental is just $4.00. Find more information here.
Free open skate at Vadnais Sports Center and Highland Arena
New in 2017, all open skate, open hockey and open turf programs at Vadnais Sports Center and Charles M. Schulz-Highland Arena are
free of charge. Open to all ages, open skate is a great way to stay
active in winter. Open hockey is also available to all ages.
Skate rental is available at both arenas for $5 per person.
Turf programs at Vadnais Sports Center offer a variety of recreation
options for all ages including walking, softball, soccer and toddler
open play.
Skate in your neighborhood
In addition to the rinks above, many communities have outdoor rinks in neighborhood parks. Check out the links below for more information from each community!
Upcoming Events Around District 2
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