 Hello everyone,
I hope you all are staying safe and healthy. Ramsey County continues to respond to the ongoing crisis. To learn about what we are doing at https://www.ramseycounty.us/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-information.
We are looking for community members to serve on a Racial Equity & Community Engagement Advisory Council. If you are interested, the deadline to apply is Friday. Please see below for details!
My physical office remains closed for in person meetings, but my office will continue to serve constituent needs that come up, and will be available via phone (651-266-8359) or email (district2@ramseycounty.us) to answer any inquiries you may have.
I wish you well as you continue adjust to the changes in your life. Please be safe and healthy, and don't forget to wash your hands!
Sincerely,
Mary Jo
Seeking Racial Equity & Community Engagement Community Advisory Committee Members
Deadline to apply - May 1
Ramsey County would like your help advancing racial equity within our community during the COVID-19 pandemic response. The Racial Equity and Community Engagement Response Team (RECERT) was formed in April 2020 to address the racial inequities caused by this disease. Recognizing the importance of leading with race, and ensuring community voice is in all decision-making processes, we are forming a RECERT Community Advisory Committee.
We are seeking up to 15 individuals and organization willing to join this advisory committee. Ramsey County must be conscious of what has happened in other jurisdictions as we see disproportionate numbers of racial and ethnic communities across the nation, particularly African-American, who have contracted COVID-19 and died from its complications. Members of the committee will be compensated for their time and expertise.
Proposed duties of the advisory committee:
- Learn: Understand Ramsey County's vision and strategy to advance racial equity during the COVID-19.
- Evaluate: Review and evaluate the racial equity action plan, current policies, practices and procedures that impact racial and ethnic communities during the COVID-19 response.
- Plan: Co-develop strategies with the Race Equity Response Team outlining unmet needs of residents.
- Participate: Attend and actively participate in virtual RECERT Advisory Committee meetings, including involvement in one focus area sub-group. Members will be compensated for their time.
Please respond by May 1 at 5:00p.m. CST deadline using the interest form link below. We appreciate your time and the interest form will take 5-10 minutes to complete. Please share with other community individuals and organizations in your network.
Link to interest form and more information: RECERT Community Advisory Committee
Watch Board Meetings Live to get updates on COVID response work
Each Tuesday, the Ramsey County Board meets virtually at 9:00 am, and you can tune in from home to get information, including updates on our COVID-19 response work.
Visit https://www.ramseycounty.us/your-government/leadership/board-commissioners/board-meetings-information for additional information.
Property tax deadline extended to July 15 for qualifying taxpayers
The deadline for payment of first-half property taxes for qualifying Ramsey County property owners who are financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis has been extended from May 15 to July 15, 2020.
Properties that qualify:
- Non-escrowed homesteads.
- Non-escrowed small businesses with annual taxes less than or equal to $50,000.
- Non-escrowed residential non-homesteads of one to three units with annual taxes less than or equal to $20,000.
Generally, the deadline extension applies to those who own a home, a residential property of one to three units, or a small business and who pay property taxes directly to the county twice per year and who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Property owners who are able to pay their property taxes by the May 15 due date are encouraged to do so to help support the county, school district and city responses to COVID-19.
An online lookup tool is available to help property owners identify if their property qualifies for the extension at taxextension.ramseycounty.us.
Qualifying taxpayers can simply pay by the new deadline. Typical penalties will apply to late payments made after July 15, 2020.
The July 15 extension is in addition to Ramsey County’s one-time late payment penalty waiver program that taxpayers may use one time every ten years. It applies even if a property owner has used the one-time waiver in the past, and it will not impact the ability to use the waiver in the future.
As is the case each year, property taxpayers can make partial payments and retain the right to appeal to the County Auditor/Treasurer for an abatement of penalty in case of exceptional hardship.
Please visit ramseycounty.us/paypropertytax or call 651-266-2000 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) for more information.
Junior Assistant Naturalist application deadline extended to May 5
Tamarack Nature Center has extended the Junior Assistant Naturalist application deadline to Sunday, May 5.
Junior Assistant Naturalists serve as volunteers that help with summer day camp programs. Like camp counselors, JANs are fun, friendly mentors to young day campers. They assist in preparing activities, leading games and supervising campers.
Applications are open to youth ages 13 - 17 (must be 14 by Sept. 1) who love working with kids, getting their hands dirty and being active outside.
Learn more
Volunteers in Corrections annual plant sale begins May 1
The annual Volunteers in Corrections plant sale will take place May 1-24. The sale is located at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility and features a variety of hanging baskets, deck pots, vegetables and herbs.
Volunteers in Corrections is working to implement new safety procedures due to COVID-19 that are in line with guidelines for garden centers and nurseries provided by the Department of Agriculture and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the first time, the plant sale will have weekday hours to help reduce crowds and promote social distancing.
For more information on the new safety procedures, visit the Volunteers in Corrections website.
Hours
- Sundays - Thursdays: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Fridays: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Saturdays: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
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County board honors employee contributions during COVID-19 pandemic and throughout the year.
At the April 21 board meeting, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners formally recognized the contributions of all employees who are continuing to provide essential services to the residents of our community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board also recognized six nationally-designated weeks that directly relate to many areas of service in the county:
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Prevent and understand sexual violence
Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows nearly one in five women and one in 38 men in the United States experience rape or attempted rape at some point in their lives.
Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health's SOS Sexual Violence Services provides free, 24-hour crisis services to victims of sexual violence, their friends and family.
24/7 crisis line
During the COVID-19 pandemic, SOS continues to be available 24/7 by phone at 651-266-1000. All face-to-face services have been replaced by phone services and precautions are being taken to ensure client safety.
Prevent and understand sexual violence
Due to the pandemic, this year we recognize Sexual Assault Awareness/Prevention Month in a different way. In place of community events to bring awareness to this topic, please read and share the following resources on how to prevent and understand sexual violence.
Volunteering to serve our community during the COVID-19 pandemic
If you are interested in volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic, the following organizations have information on local and remote opportunities.
Medical Reserve Corps
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Ramsey County will need additional support during the extended COVID-19 response. MRC is a countywide resource of health professionals and other volunteers who strengthen our community by preparing for and responding to public health and related emergencies.
If you or someone you know are interested in helping your community during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the Medical Reserve Corps page to learn more and sign up.
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donation site now open
Ramsey County has established a drop-off site to accept requested donations for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff who work on the front lines responding to COVID-19. The following items are requested in unused (sealed or open) condition:
- N95 respirator masks.
- Medical, surgical or industry face masks.
- Tie-in-back gowns.
- Face shields.
- Surgical gloves (nitrile or vinyl).
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Cloth face coverings (homemade face masks).*
*- donations of any homemade face coverings should accord with current guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.
The drop-off site is located on the northeast corner of the county’s Public Works campus (near the used oil and filter collection shed) at:
1352 Ben Franklin St.
Arden Hills, MN 55112
View location on an interactive map
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COVID-19 disaster relief grants available for veterans
The Minnesota Legislature has approved a one-time financial relief grant of $1,000 to counter the negative effects and economic impact COVID-19 has had on veterans and their families. Applications for the disaster relief grant will be taken starting April 6, 2020. The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, limited to the length of existing funds.
To qualify for the COVID-19 Special Needs Grant, applicants must be:
- A veteran or the surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a deceased veteran as defined by MN Statute 197.447, and
- A Minnesota Resident, and
- Have been negatively financially impacted by COVID-19
Veterans married to each other are both authorized to apply for and receive their own disaster relief grants.
Visit the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Disaster Relief Grant page for more details and application information, or contact Ramsey County Veterans Services for support and assistance at 651-266-2545 or online.
COVID-19 impacts on county services
Ramsey County remains open for business, but have implemented new methods of service delivery. Please do not attempt to access county services in-person at this time. This is both for your safety, as well as the safety of Ramsey County employees during this time.
If you have a question or need assistance with a county program or service, your first step should be to call the Customer Contact Center which is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
651-266-8500
Ramsey County’s office phone lines are open during regular hours. If you receive a busy signal or message when calling, it’s because of the heavy cell phone call volume in the Twin Cities metro area.
If your issue cannot be resolved over the phone, you will receive instructions on next steps.
Executive orders from Governor Walz
These orders further strengthen Minnesota's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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