July 2021
The last few weeks we have seen record high temps, city water restrictions caused by an expanding drought and smoky haze from Canadian wildfires reaching far enough to cover our skies. All these events are highlighting the need for a better understanding of our current environment and how small changes could lessen the impact of climate change. My office has been spending the last month visiting with Three Rivers Park staff, local businesses, and county staff to explore different and unique ways we can help implement our Climate Action Plan which was passed earlier this year by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. Concepts like wildlife and nature preserves, sustainable land management, and incorporating native plants and pollinator gardens with high touch horticulture concepts. I am glad to have the opportunities to connect with experts about these concepts and can’t wait to discover further innovation in reaching our counties goal of Zero Waste by 2050.
2021 Youth Sports Grants Administered to District 7
This year, District 7 had three projects funded through the Hennepin County Youth Sports Program, including $25,000 for Donahue Dells Park in Dayton, $10,000 for equipment in Corcoran’s City Park and over $4,000 for equipment at Rockford Highschool and Elementary. This grant program began in 2009 and has awarded more than $24 million, with $3.8 million of that disbursed within our district to use for playgrounds, equipment and swimming lessons.
Here is a short video about the program. Congrats to all cities who received funding, and if you have an interest in funding projects for next year, please contact Amy Van Schepen at amy.vanschepen@hennepin.us or visit the program website at https://www.hennepin.us/your-government/projects-initiatives/henn-youth-sports for more information.
2021 Food distribution opportunities
Hennepin County is providing grants to organizations who assist with food distribution through December 31, 2021. These funds are directed to assist with the hardships seen with the COVID-19 pandemic for groups such as nonprofits, culturally specific organizations, food shelves and banks, as well as educational institutions. If you or someone you know would like to apply for these funds, please use this link (2021 food distribution opportunities | Hennepin County) for more information and application information. If you have questions about this program, feel free to connect with our office or Jillian Kyles the county’s Human Services Program Manager at jillian.kyles@hennepin.us
Traffic Management System Improvements
Hennepin County will seek to update traffic signals along various roads within the county. This upgrade will move to a more modern traffic system including signal controllers, traffic management cameras, fiber optic communications, and transportation management software. This new system will also allow us to address points of our climate action plan by improving efficiency and safety on our transportation system.
The roads impacted include:
- Maple Grove: County Road 130 (Elm Creek Boulevard) between County Road 30 (93rd Ave N) and Hemlock Lane N.
- Maple Grove, Plymouth & Minnetonka: County Road 61 (Hemlock Lane N, Northwest Boulevard, Xenium Lane &Plymouth Road) between County Road 130 (Elm Creek Boulevard) and Ridgedale Center.
- Brooklyn Park: County Road 130 (Brooklyn Boulevard) from County Road 81 to Kentucky Ave N.
- Crystal & Robbinsdale: County Road 81 from 63rd Ave N
- Edina: County Road 17 (France Ave S) between MN 62 to Old Shakopee Road
Loretto Whistle Free Zone
In our July 20th board meeting, the county accepted $350,000 in state funding on behalf of the city of Loretto to help create the whistle-free zone for a section of Canadian Pacific on County Road 19. The city has secured $350,000 in Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) funding from MnDOT and will be financed through General Obligation bonding with construction to be started in the summer of 2022 and finished in the fall. Once completed, this will create a safer rail crossing at Medina Street (County Road 19) for the community and the residents of Loretto.
Hennepin County passes funding for the Digital Divide
On July 20th the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners authorized funding toward the elimination of the county’s digital divide. This $10 million dollars will be used in connection with the newly created Office of Broadband and Digital Inclusion to help reduce disparities faced by residents of Hennepin County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, households in Hennepin County and Minnesota faced challenges with connection and with more households doing tasks at home for both work and school, which helped to shine a light on this issue.
With our rural residents, we have been facing an issue of not only connectivity, but a lack of fast and reliable connections. The Office of Broadband and Digital Inclusion will be tasked with pursuing opportunities to help our residents to deepen the broadband penetration and use the county’s existing fiber-optic infrastructure to help resolve gaps through public-private partnerships with internet service providers.
Commissioner Anderson’s office is hosting a town hall focused on this issue and we want to hear from you about your experiences with your internet during/after the pandemic. Do you have internet currently? If so, what type (fiber, cellular, DSL, satellite, etc.). What are some barriers to a good connection (price, access, availability, need)? If you have internet, what is one thing you would want to change about your service?
Come join us on August 18th from 6:30 to 7:30pm to hear more about the digital divide and solutions from the community. This will be hosted on zoom and more information can be found on our Facebook page.
Click here to read the full story on Hennepin County’s response to resolving the digital divide.
COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives
Instant vaccine incentives for individuals
Between July 1 and August 15 (or as long as supplies last), everyone 12 and older is eligible to get a $50 Visa gift card when they receive a first or a second COVID-19 vaccine dose at any Hennepin County vaccine event. (People who receive both doses will get two $50 Visa gift cards.) These are county-sponsored vaccine events, so there is no charge for the vaccine and you do not need to be a Hennepin County resident to participate.
For a list of upcoming vaccine events that are open to the public, go to hennepin.us/vaccineregistration.
For questions, call the COVID-19 navigator line at 612-348-8900, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, you can leave a voicemail. Help is available is English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.
Vaccine incentives for community organizations
Hennepin County is offering community organizations up to $3,000 in grants to use toward vaccine incentives. Examples of incentives that community organizations may offer include food, entertainment, vaccine education events, gift cards, and thank-you packs. Organizations must use their vaccine incentive funds by September 30, 2021.
Community organizations can learn more and apply for a vaccine incentives grant at hennepin.us/community-vaccination.
About District 7
The 7th District serves the cities of
Champlin, Corcoran, Dayton, Greenfield, Independence, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetrista, Southern Mound, Rogers,
St. Bonifacius, Hanover, Northwest Plymouth, and Rockford.
Contact us
Kevin Anderson
Commissioner, 7th District
Amy Van Schepen
District Director
612-543-1273
Kristy Janigo
Policy Director
612-596-9040