 Happy Halloween! I can't believe October is almost over and it's time for trick-or-treating. There are a few different spooky community celebrations happening this weekend (featured in the "Upcoming Events in the District" section) if you are looking for activities to attend with kids. I hope you have fun this weekend as we move further into fall. Stay safe and enjoy yourselves!
Looking beyond Halloween, we will be headed toward the holiday season and spending more time indoors. Have you gotten your updated COVID-19 booster? The booster is readily available for anyone 5 years and older. Updated boosters can help increase protection since your last shot and provide more protection against newer variants. This updated COVID-19 booster is similar to how we have a new updated flu shot each year, which you should also consider receiving this fall! For more information on the booster and County clinics, click here.
Ramsey County is holding both virtual and in-person meetings. Our board meetings are taking place in the County Board offices in the Ramsey County Courthouse. My office continues to serve constituent needs via phone (651-266-8359) or email (caitlyn.duin@ramseycounty.us).
Sincerely,
Mary Jo
Board Acknowledgements/Declarations
- October 11 - Licensed Family Child Care Provider Appreciation Day
- October 25 - Foster Care Provider Appreciation Day
County Board Workshops
Most weeks, our County Board meets to discuss specific policy issues and receive updates from County Departments and Service Teams in our Board Workshops.
Workshops and discussions are held on Tuesdays and are open to the public. These take place at the Saint Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse in Suite 220 (2nd floor). You can find the schedule for all upcoming board meetings, workshops, and discussions sessions here.
Recent workshops include:
- Residents First Facilities Update
- Residents First Update: Downtown Service Center
- 2023 Ramsey County State and Federal Legislative Platform Development
- Economic Growth and Community Investment Service Team Committee of the Whole: Joint County Board and Library Board Meeting
- 555 Cedar Relocation
You can access video recordings of the meetings as well as the materials shared by clicking here.
You can watch upcoming workshops live by clicking here.
Residents First Updates
 This month, the Board had two workshops focused on our Residents First policy and what it means for our facilities. Our goal is to improve your experience with County services at facilities by getting the right mix of services at the right locations, identifying more general locations, and more. We are considering innovative solutions including more neighborhood locations like our library-based service centers as well as mobile teams to go out into neighborhoods.
We are moving this vision forward in a number of different ways, including the further expansion of a Downtown Service Center where an integrated service model is used and continuous improvement will help us to learn best practices.
I am excited by this vision where residents can access County services easily and efficiently with the goal of having "one county, one door." This could be a dramatic transformation that moves us even closer to being a vibrant community where all are valued and thrive. Stay tuned as we continue to do this work together!
Join us for a Virtual Community Conversation about Climate Change on November 1
 Climate change affects our entire community. The effects of climate change are particularly felt by African American/Black, American Indian and other racially, ethnically and culturally diverse communities.
We want to hear from you! Join Ramsey County for one of two upcoming engagement sessions focused on climate justice. Ramsey County has been working with Equity Strategies, LLC. to host a series of virtual community discussions about programs, services and resources residents would like the county to provide to address the health impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.
For more information, click here.
Share your Feedback on the Proposed Environmental Service Center in Roseville
We are committed to making it easier and more convenient to recycle in Ramsey County. Part of that effort is opening an Environmental Service Center that will be a one-stop shop for many waste reduction and recycling services.
We are at the start of this planning process. The Community Open Houses held virtually and in person this month were successful, with many residents sharing their excitement and concerns.
1700 Kent Street, Roseville is the proposed site which is centrally located to increase accessibility. Services at the center will include:
- Recycling, household hazardous waste and electronics drop off.
- A free product reuse room.
- Space for Fix-It Clinics and other environmental education and activities.
For more information and an informational video, click here!
If you missed the open houses but still want to provide your comments and concerns, you can still provide feedback using the comment form here.
Guidelines for Ramsey County Homebuyer Assistance Program are Expanded!
Owning a home is one of the best ways to build wealth. Ramsey County has been expanding our efforts to make affordable homeownership a possibility for all. One way we are working to help make affordable homeownership accessible and improve housing stability throughout the county is by adding new and more inclusive guidelines to our FirstHome homebuyer assistance program. The FirstHome homebuyer assistance program will now assist both low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers and first-generation homebuyers who are looking to call suburban Ramsey County home.
For more details on the new guidelines, click here!
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Ice Castles Return to Long Lake Regional Park!
We are excited that this January, Ice Castles will return to Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton.
The frozen experience features tunnels, caverns, towers, fountains, slides and crawl spaces built entirely from icicles that are grown on site, harvested, and hand-placed by professional ice artisans. The winter playground will also include an ice sculpture garden and a winter light grove this season.
Construction on the winter attraction typically begins in November. A team of at least 20 ice artisans will spend about eight weeks building the experience. Ice Castles is expected to open in early January and remain open until early March.
More information on the experience and tickets here.
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District Connections
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At the Project Heat's On Breakfast with the United Association of Pipefitters, AFL-CIO Local No. 455, Local No. 539, along with the Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association. |
 Attending the Workforce Recruitment Resource Fair with Ramsey County Workforce Solutions Planning Specialist Karyn Berg, City of Roseville Department Assistant Staci Johnson, City of Roseville Economic Development Program Manager Jeanne Kelsey, Ramsey County Workforce Director Ling Becker, City of Roseville Economic Development Coordinator Joel Koepp, and Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce President John Connelly.
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With Nathan Delgado, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties at the Workforce Recruitment Resource Fair.
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With Roseville Rotary members during the Roadside Clean Up Day. |
 At the Roseville Fire Department Open House with Fire Chief David Brosnahan and Firefighter Mike Bierscheid.
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On a walking meeting with New Brighton Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle.
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At a Ramsey County League of Local Governments zoom meeting on Responding to the Homelessness Crisis in Ramsey County. |
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At a Community Open House for the proposed Environmental Service Center with Rep. Ami Wazlawik. |
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At Roseville Rotary with City of Roseville's Corey Yunke and Rebecca Olson who presented about the Community Visioning Process along with Rotary President Maggie Mau. |
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At the Roseville VFW for the annual Booya. |
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At Makwa Coffee with Rep. Connie Bernardy, Rep. Ami Wazlawik, Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, former Rep. Mindy Greiling, and MN Indian Affairs Council Executive Director Shannon Geshick. |
 With Ramsey County Board Chair Trista MatasCastillo, NAMI Ramsey County members, and members of the Vail Place Clubhouse during a recent tour to learn more about the Clubhouse International model of support for people with mental health challenges.
 On a visit to Harambee Community Cultures Environmental Science Elementary School with Roseville Schools leadership and local elected officials.
Upcoming Events in the District:
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