Boozhoo friends & residents,
I hope you and your loved ones had a fun and safe Fourth of July and are enjoying the summer!
My family and I had a great time at the fireworks show in White Bear Lake. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a wonderful, family-friendly event. I also want to give a special shoutout to our first responders and public works crews who kept things running smoothly throughout the holiday.
|
July is Disability Awareness Month, and on July 8th, the Ramsey County Board proudly presented a proclamation (see photo above) honoring the importance of equity, access, and inclusion for people of all abilities. Read and watch the proclamation here: https://www.ramseycounty.us/content/july-2025-disability-pride-month-ramsey-county
And on a sweeter note, July is also National Ice Cream Month! It’s the perfect time to treat yourself and support a local ice cream shop in your neighborhood.
Miigwech, or thank you, for this opportunity to serve you.
 P.S. My office is always available to answer your questions, navigate county services, or help us all foster connections to make our cities even better places to live, work and play.
Please feel free to reach out via email at Kelly.Miller@co.ramsey.mn.us.
If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please sign up here!
In this Issue:
- Transportation Plan Update
- Borrow a Bike! and other events on the Ramsey County calendar
- Road Construction in District 7
- Meet the Commissioner In-District Office Hours
- Kelly in the Community
- Upcoming Events
Transportation Update from a New Perspective
I’m proud to serve on a Board that created Ramsey County’s All-Abilities Transportation Plan, adopted in 2023. This plan makes it clear: walking, rolling, biking, transit, and driving all matter and they should all be treated with equal importance. It reflects our shared values of equity, access, inclusion and belonging.
More recently, the Board approved the Transportation Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). While some have seen this as the county stepping away from the Riverview Corridor streetcar project, I see it as a forward-looking investment in a connected, modern, and resilient transportation system. This builds on years of planning and public engagement and sets clear priorities for future investments across the county.
If you're new to this space (like me), here’s what I learned: roads in Minnesota are managed at different levels: state, county, or city and each is responsible for funding and maintenance of the roads they manage. In the metro area, the Metropolitan Council also plays a role in coordinating across jurisdictions.
The new Transportation CIP ensures the revenue from the transportation tax is directly invested into our All-Abilities Plan, upgrading roads and expanding transit options in ways that are accessible to everyone. This includes strong support for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
The Riverview Corridor was first proposed more than 20 years ago to connect downtown Saint Paul to the airport and eventually loop into Minneapolis. After studying various options, streetcar was selected back in 2017 as the preferred alternative. But despite years of effort, the project reached an impasse in 2024 due to unresolved issues among key partners. With the streetcar option no longer viable, the county is now moving forward with BRT or arterial BRT as more realistic alternatives.
Ramsey County remains committed to working with partners and the community. Our transportation plan is a living document—shaped by principles like equity, multimodal access, climate resilience, and countywide investment. As County Manager Ling Becker put it so well, this is the power of “One Ramsey County”—aligning our work to build a community where everyone can thrive.
For more information:
On the Riverview Corridor
On the All-Abilities Transportation Plan
On the Transportation Improvement Plan
Looking for an opportunity to get on a bike? Visit us at one of our upcoming bike events in July and August! Borrow a bike to cruise around or explore the trails while at the park. A variety of styles and sizes for youth and adults will be available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. Adults will need a driver's license or photo I.D. to check out a bike. Youth need to present a student I.D. or be with an adult.
Click here for the dates and locations to borrow-a-bike this summer.
District 7 Road Construction in 2025
City of Maplewood:
County Road D – Greenbrier St. to County Road D Cir.
- reconstruction
Beam Avenue – US61 to Swanson St.
- pavement preservation
Century Avenue – Lower Afton Rd. to Woodbine Ave.
- pavement preservation
County Road D – Flandrau St. to Bittersweet Ln.
- pavement preservation
Van Dyke Street – Ripley Ave. to White Bear Ave.
- pavement replacement & pedestrian/bicycle lane striping
City of White Bear Lake
Tamarack Creek: Storm Water Pond Maintenance & Improvement
Join us in August at one of the three Ramsey County Libraries in our district to meet directly with Commissioner Miller. Come by to let us know of an issue you'd like to bring to our attention or just stop in to say hello and meet your new commissioner.
Monday, August 4
1:30 - 3:00 pm
White Bear Lake Library
2150 2nd Street in White Bear Lake
Monday, August 11
10:30 am - 12:00 noon
North Saint Paul Library
2300 N. St. Paul Drive in North St. Paul
Monday, August 18
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Maplewood Library
3025 Southlawn Drive in Maplewood
Please let us know you're coming!
All residents of District 7 are welcome to come to any of these "office hours" regardless of which city you live in. Please RSVP if you know which one works for you in case we need to let you know of any last-minute scheduling changes.
.
 |
|
REMINDER:
The Food Scraps Pickup Program is a way for residents of Maplewood and North Saint Paul to recycle food scraps from home.
|
Why collect food scraps?
Twenty percent of our trash is food waste. When you participate in the food scraps pickup program, your food waste and non-recyclable paper products are recovered, recycled, and turned back into soil. Recovering food scraps from trash provides health, environmental and economic benefits to the community.
|
How does it work?
Food scraps and non-recyclable paper products will be collected from residents using bags provided by the program called “food scrap bags.” These are more durable than the compost bags available at your grocery store. Food scrap bags will be collected along with your trash and then separated from the trash after collection. This system requires no additional carts or trucks.
-
Order your free annual supply of food scrap bags.
- Once a week or when the bag is full, tie a single knot at the top to close the bag.
-
Place your food scrap bag inside your trash cart or dumpster for collection. Do NOT put it within your other plastic or paper garbage bags.
-
Done! The food scraps will be composted at our Recycling & Energy Center.
Learn more or get started by visiting
Click here for more details and information
The program is rolling out over multiple years and will eventually be available to all residents of Ramsey County.
 The Open Road Fund was created to serve Black descendants of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, especially formerly incarcerated folks, single parents, senior citizens, those living with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ folks.
Through 2031, Nexus will award $50,000 gifts that can be used for wealth projects, including housing, education, financial well-being, healing, and economic justice. We want to be clear—these gifts are not reparations but an opportunity to redistribute resources to our communities to build Black wealth.
There are no income caps or minimums, folks can apply individually or in partnership with other members of the community, and applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply:
- Ages 14 and up
- A resident of Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota
- A descendant of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, including the Caribbean, North, Central, and South America.
2025 applications are open through July 21 at 11:59 pm CT.
Open Road Fund - Nexus Community Partners
The summer months have been a good time for the three newest commissioners to learn more about the many partners to and divisions of Ramsey County by way of touring many facilities.
On June 4, Commissioners McMurtrey, Jebens-Singh, and Miller received a tour of Merrick, Inc. with incoming Executive Director Mike Greenbaum, now retired Director John Wayne Barker, and Development and Communications Director Karen Herrera.
|
Also on June 4, they met with Catholic Charities' of Saint Paul's Community Advocacy Manager Carole Specktor and Executive Director Jamie Verbrugge to tour Dorothy Day Place, including the St. Paul Opportunity Center, Higher Ground Shelter and the St. Anthony Residence.
|
 |
|
The Commissioners met with Director Dr. Kelly Mills, and received a tour of the Medical Examiners Office on June 5. |
On June 18, Commissioner Miller toured the Midway Job Fair at Alliance Field with Workforce Solutions Director Catrice O'Neal and Manager Becky Milbrandt. |
|
 |
Commissioner Miller, along with County Manager Ling Becker, presented to the Maplewood City Council on June 23, about the County's goals, strategic priorities and the impacts to counties and cities of the latest federal actions.
|
The Ramsey County Board members met with the County owned and operated Landmark Center's Board for an annual luncheon on June 24.
|
Wet a line with Maplewood Public Safety personnel. We will provide the fishing gear, bait and food. Come join us!
July 19th
4:00 - 7:00 pm
Spoon Lake Fishing Area
Maplewood, MN 55109
From 5 to 9 p.m. on August 5th, residents throughout Maplewood and across the nation are asked to spend the evening outside with neighbors and first responders.
|
History Cruzers
Every Friday night until September 19
Bands playing include:
Hacklewrappers, Forrest Miller and The Lodge Boys, Something 70’s, Boomerz, Smooth Sensation, Bad Apple
Performing by Sidewinders and the River of God Church
https://www.historycruzer.com/calendar.htm
North St. Paul National Night Out
|
Host your own block party or gathering and invite the North St. Paul Police, Fire Department, and City Council to stop by!
To request a visit or a street closure, register your party address here.
OR Join the Fun at City Hall!
The North St. Paul Fire Department will also host a public celebration at the City Hall Fire Bay from 5–7 PM
Click here for more details!
|
Pickleball, Anyone?
Come and Play in North St. Paul Daily
first come - first served
Hause Park
2616 4th Ave E, North St Paul, MN 55109
The pickleball courts at Hause Park are open to everyone, no reservations needed! Grab your paddle, bring a friend (or make a new one!), and enjoy a game on our well-maintained courts. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just getting started, it’s a great way to get moving and enjoy your community.
More about North St. Paul Parks and Rec
 Downtown White Bear Lake Farmers’ Market
On Clark between 2nd and 3rd Streets
Every Friday 8am to noon through October 24th
Lakeshore Players Summer Camps
"No Place Like Shiz" – July 21 to Aug 8
"Caterpillar Camp" – July 21-25
For more information
Night to Unite
(also known as National Night Out) is the first Tuesday of August each year:
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Please use the online registration form HERE during the month of July to register your group, and to find locations in White Bear Lake on August 5.
If you have any questions about Night to Unite, please contact Captain Isaac Tuma at 612-803-4071 or at ituma@whitebearlake.org.
Sponsored by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, AAA of Minnesota/Iowa, and local law enforcement agencies.
|
White Bear Area Resource Network Meeting
Thursday, August 14, 2025, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Community Market
2446 County Rd F East, White Bear Lake
Questions and to RSVP by Monday, August 11, 2025:
Contact: Alicia Gatto Petersen (she/her)
(651) 433-7341 or alicia@whitebearfoodshelf.org
Thursdays, June 19 – July 31, 2025
6:00 – 9:00 pm
— RAIN OR SHINE —
Downtown White Bear Lake
JUNE 19 – Manitou Days, kick off Marketfest with Manitou Days. Learn more about all the events that are part of the Manitou Days celebration!
JUNE 26 – White Bear Lake History Night, sponsored by White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
Celebrate local history with the White Bear Historical Society, as they take over 4th Street to host a Walk Down Memory Lane.
Click on the following images for more information and to sign up!
 While our Park’s team is grateful for the rains we’ve had this summer, an unfortunate side effect has been delays to construction schedules completing the Tuj Lub courts at Keller Regional Park. Due to these delays Ramsey County has rescheduled the Tuj Lub grand re-opening event from July 19 to September 20.
 |
|
If you know of events happening in Maplewood, North Saint Paul or White Bear Lake, please let us help you share the information! Send details and any graphics to Kathleen HERE.
|
|
