|
Stay connected. Follow us on social media!
Facebook | X | Instagram
Website | Contact us
Dear neighbors,
Madam Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman was the textbook definition of a life dedicated to public service. She was inspiring to her peers, created space for compassion and dialogue across the aisle, and was sharp and intelligent. Her impact on Minnesota is undeniable. As Speaker, she passed some of the most consequential legislation for generations of Minnesotans. This was due to her sheer strength of character, tactfulness, ability to lead, and her genuine care for all people. We are still grappling with how to best define her immense legacy. Her husband Mark was a committed partner and father who supported her every day in her life and her work. They were laid to rest this past weekend.
The void felt right now can't be described. The act of political violence that took them was cruel, dehumanizing, and a symptom of how our political divides are only becoming wider. We must stand together and denounce hate, violence, extremism, and polarization in all forms. Our town square and our debates must return to a place of fact, understanding, and care for one another.
Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette are miraculously still alive and recovering. This won’t be easy, but we are all here with them as they walk this road towards health. The cruelty we saw was not successful in taking them from us, and for that I am truly thankful.
The Hoffmans and the Hortmans are the best among us. This only adds to the confusion and pain on how something so senseless and tragic could take place.
I want to deeply thank our first responders who immediately jumped into action during the largest manhunt in Minnesota history. Federal, State, local law enforcement, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, the Hennepin Medical Examiner's Office, EMS, and our health care professionals acted decisively as they protected, pursued, saved, and served throughout this incredibly difficult and dynamic moment, resulting in the perpetrator’s capture. Thank you.
This moment has struck at the heart of our state and our democracy. We are healing and grieving, and this process will carry on for some time. I find solace in the fact that attempts like these to strike fear into communities, stifle debate, and discourage people from serving in elected office will ultimately not succeed. We must come together as one Minnesota—and as a country—and denounce the terror that came to the doorsteps of our beloved community leaders the morning of June 14, 2025. We must find ways to diminish the rhetoric, conspiracy, and hate. If we don’t, I fear we will only welcome more needless violence and bloodshed.
With care,
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
What's happening at Hennepin County, and across the district:
Hennepin County Administrator David Hough began his career as a law clerk with Hennepin in the mid-80s. During his time as Administrator, he has overseen some of the most consequential policies and moments in Hennepin, including our drive towards disparity reduction across all lines of business, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We are so thankful for the 40 years of service he has given us, the residents of Hennepin County, over his amazing career in local government.
See an article in the Star Tribune.
Make sure to follow me on X! @HennepinDebbie
Hennepin County Public Health is developing its next strategic plan. This plan will guide decision making, name priorities and help the department align with community and County partners.
The plan will guide Hennepin County Public Health’s work from 2026-2028.
Hennepin County for the first time is livestreaming meetings on YouTube! This is being done to increase access to live and archived official county business to a wider audience across our communities. This is being added in addition to the County's current streaming tool provided on the Hennepin County website.
Residents can now access both livestreaming and archived materials on Hennepin County’s YouTube channel.
The Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants Program has awarded more than $400,000 of Equipment and Arts & Music Grants to projects across our communities for the Spring 2025 grant cycle.
Grantees awarded included the following projects in our district:
-
Kennedy and Jefferson Activity Centers: $10,000 for basketball rims and padding
-
Richfield Ice Arena: $10,000 for skate aids, hockey equipment, rink divider, rental skates
-
Kennedy High School: $25,000 for purchases to support choir program, including risers, costumes, music purchases, arranging and licensing
-
Oak Grove Middle School: $7,344 for mirrors to allow students to self-monitor their performance while practicing show choir, and dance shoes for dance program
The District 5 office got outside in June to do some volunteer yard work for our new friends Larry and Pricilla in Bloomington in partnership with Senior Community Services. Thank you for the treats and lemonade, Larry and Pricilla!
Debbie, Graham and Kate, plus Tor, Grady, Rhys, and Lucy made up a formidable team, taking on any weeds, downed trees, and doughnuts that crossed their paths.
If you would like to make new connections, meet your neighbors, and support our wonderful seniors in your community, this is a great way to do it. Volunteer here, or seek services if you are a senior in need.
The Coven is best known as a coworking space for small businesses and entrepreneurs looking for office space, but the organization has also developed a massive library of on-demand learning resources to help entrepreneurs learn and grow.
Elevate Hennepin, through an investment from Hennepin County, is pleased to partner with The Coven to offer this digital resource, meaning any Hennepin County business owner, entrepreneur, or resident exploring a business idea can tap into The Coven’s online training, discussions, and connect with others at no cost.
“All Hennepin County business owners are eligible for free virtual memberships,” said Liz Giel, a co-founder and partner in The Coven. “So, they can be part of our thriving Coven community, and access the whole library of educational content that we've developed.”
When Pizza Karma cofounder and "chief pizza officer" Rajesh Selvaraj joined CEO Now, things were going well for the Edina-based company. But Rajesh knew he and the leadership team had to work on consistency and the underlying structure of the business to meet their big goals.
He said the CEO Now curriculum and deep conversations with fellow business leaders transformed how he and the rest of the leadership team organized the company.
"It was kind of like re-learning alphabets from A to Z," said Rajesh. "I knew all the 26 letters, but everything was scrambled. We had the fundamentals like financial forecasting, strategic planning, long-term goals, three-year goals; but we didn't have a structure. CEO Now helped slice those down into yearly and quarterly goals for all those things." Read the full story at: Arranging the ABCs of business in CEO Now | Elevate Hennepin
Take the Stop Food Waste Challenge to see how you can save money, time, and the planet by tweaking your kitchen habits.
Wasted food is a waste of money. The average family of four spends more than $2,500 on food that gets tossed every year. We waste time shopping for food we don’t have a plan to use and cooking food we forget to eat. All that uneaten food wastes the resources, energy, and labor used to create it.
By coming together with our community, we can make a real difference toward reducing waste and fighting climate change. Take the Stop Food Waste Challenge to learn better strategies for buying food you’ll eat and eating the food you buy. Sign up opens July 1, and the challenge runs August 1 – 31.
Call 612-543-8851 and listen to a recording made by staff from Hennepin County Libraries reading a short-story on-demand. The story will change weekly. See the of previous stories on the Dial-a-Story for Adults book list. Hosted by Outreach services, and sponsored by Friends of the Hennepin County Library.
Current and upcoming lane and ramp closures on I-494
2025 Transportation Activities Webmap
Check out what’s happening across the county or zoom into your district to see what’s happening closer to you. To learn more about each project, just click on the line or dot on the map.
Transportation Capital Projects Webmap
Other resources:
Metropolitan Council weekly construction update
MnDOT- Metro Area State highway and bridge projects
Since 1980, the Richfield 4th of July celebration has been Richfield's marquee summer event. The three day celebration includes a parade, fireworks display, street dance, culminating with a family movie night on Saturday.
Street dance, Thursday, July 3, 5:00 - 11:30 p.m. @ Richfield Ice Arena
Parade, Friday, July 4, 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. @ 70th and Harriet to 70th and Chicago
Fireworks Celebration, Friday, July 4, 3:00 - 10:30 p.m. @ Veteran's Park
Family movie night, Saturday, July 5, 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. @ Richfield STEM/RDLS Field
Learn more here.
Check out one of Minnesota's largest fireworks displays as Bloomington rings in Independence Day weekend at their annual Summer Fete.
Thursday, July 3, 5:00 - 10:30 p.m.
Normandale Lake Park, W. 84th Street and Normandale Blvd.
Learn more here.
Eden Prairie is kicking off the Independence Day weekend with a free, kid-friendly event with activity stations and food trucks throughout the park, culminating with a sensory-friendly drone show.
Thursday, July 3, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Round Lake Park, 16691 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
Learn more here.
Five Years Later: In Honor of George Floyd
Hennepin History Museum honors the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in the new installation Five Years Later. The exhibit features visual and audio material culture created by local community members in the aftermath of what was arguably the darkest moment in Hennepin County history. Five Years Later features three portraits made in tribute to Mr. Floyd, as well as two paintings and performance art by seangarrison. On display through August.
Check out events happening at a Hennepin County library near you. Filter for specific geographic areas, age groups, and different types of events to find something unique to you and your family!
Learn more at Hennepin County Library events.
|
Whether it's a housing crisis, energy assistance question, or child protection concern, we are here to help you navigate these and other issues.
Please call our office at 612-348-7885 or contact us to seek assistance or ask a question.
Contact
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
Hennepin County District 5
Bloomington | Eden Prairie | Richfield | SW Minneapolis
612-348-7885
Graham Faulkner
Policy Director
612-596-7078
Kate Nelson
District Director
612-348-7885
|
