From the Desk of County Commissioner Jan Callison

Editor's note: The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. Jan Callison represents part of Chanhassen, Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.

The Board made appointments to the following Citizen Advisory Boards:

• Marvin Johnson, Mary Brindle and Karen Nordstrom were appointed to the Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin Board(CAPSH).
• Larry Teien and Stanley McFall were appointed to the County Extension Committee (Minnesota Extension Service).
• Alvaro Giraud and Yelena Kurdyumova were appointed to the Human Resources Board.
•  Thomas Bodin, Grace Hanson, Jeffrey Mutz, Amy Baldwin and Norm Champ were appointed to the Workforce Investment Board

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners appoints citizens and local officials to serve on a variety of advisory boards, task forces and committees through an open appointments process. For many advisory boards the process begins after the first of the year through public interviews, allowing the commissioners to select volunteers from a broad base of citizen talent, diversity, knowledge and skills to benefit county government. The process offers all interested, eligible Hennepin County residents an opportunity to be considered for appointments.

For current openings on Citizen Advisory Boards, Task Forces and Committees, or to apply visit this county webpage.

February 15, 2013

After a nationwide search with more than 90 applicants, the Board held a public meeting for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the position of Hennepin County Administrator.  Three candidates were interviewed:  David Hough, Deputy County Administrator and current Acting County Administrator, Steve Cramer, President and Executive Director of Project for Pride in Living, Inc. and Steve O'Malley, County Administrator of La Crosse County, WI.

February 21, 2013

The Board unanimously chose David Hough for the position of Hennepin County Administrator.  A 30 year employee of Hennepin County, Hough began his career in the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.  He became Deputy County Administrator in 2008.  He earned his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. 

Once the terms of appointment are negotiated and approved by the Board in March, Hough will be formally appointed County Administrator.

In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the Board often meets on Thursday mornings to receive "Board Briefings."  These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues.  No decisions are made.  Board Briefings occur in the Boardroom on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.

Februay 14, 2013

• Downtown East development/Vikings stadium update —Staff reviewed four topics in relationship to the Vikings stadium proposal and related developments:  a. access/impacts on Hennepin County facilities and operations, b. transportation impacts, c.  HCMC ambulatory clinic/shared parking opportunities and d. other needs, opportunities and area developments.
• Governor’s transit proposal — Staff presented information on the impact of the Governor’s proposal to increase the amount and base of the sales tax, as well as the changes being proposed in transit funding.

February 28, 2013

• Energy Center Update—The Board received information about the current condition of the Energy Center and potential improvements, both to maintain its condition and to potentially serve the new Vikings stadium.  The Energy Center currently provides chilled water and/or steam to NRG, county facilities, HCMC, the Metrodome and some others. 
• Phone Stipend—County staff reported on options for cost sharing relating to employee use of personal smartphone devices.  The purpose would be to allow employees to use one device to access their email and calendar information from work and personal accounts.  The policy would relate to how these costs would be shared between the County and the employee.  County staff has used our advisory group of private sector CIOs to help it think through the issues raised by this iniatitive.

Businesses or organizations looking for teen employees and teens looking for a job can attend the Hennepin County Library's seventh annual Teen Job Fair onSaturday, March 23, noon-3 p.m. at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

Businesses and organizations can sign up now to participate (no charge). The free fair is open to teens age 14 and up. Average attendance over the years has topped 1,000.  For more detail, read the news release. 

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator - Find Tax Help and Assistance Locations Online

AARP Tax-Aide is a free program run by the AARP Foundation to guide people with low to moderate incomes through their taxes, making sure they receive all the deductions and credits they're entitled to.  Available through April 15, it is the nation's largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service.

For a location nearest your home in Hennepin County,click here.

These free workshops begin in March and are part of Hennepin County Library’s “Library Laboratory” series offering adults hands-on learning opportunities.  

Library Laboratory: Sugar & Spice

Mary Jo Rasmussen and other instructors from Urban Relish will demonstrate how to make spice blends and grilling rubs at "Sugar & Spice" labs from March 12 to May 18.  
From barbecue rubs to Moroccan harissa, steaks to casseroles to dessert, spice blends add flavor to whatever you’re cooking. Mix up a collection of sweet and savory blends to take home and learn the secrets to making your own signature blend. 

Library Laboratory: Bike Maintenance

Thad Cialek of Freewheel Bike will demonstrate basic bike maintenance and answer your questions at bike labs from March 4 to May 6. He’ll cover changing a flat tire, patching a tube, reinstalling a wheel and lubricating the chain, derailleurs and brake pivots.

This Hennepin County Library news release has dates and more information about the classes.

Teens Invited to Get Creative, Sign Up for Workshops at Hennepin County Libraries 

Teens who like being creative or want to improve their creative writing skills are invited to more than 20 free “Make This” workshops and “First Pages for Teens” writing classes offered March through mid-May at Hennepin County libraries.Registration is required.  

Teens in grades 7-12 who enjoy trying new things will like “Make This” workshops on fashion design, jewelry-making, anime and manga drawing, nontraditional comic arts, assemblage arts and how to make altered books and zines (mini-magazines).

Read this Hennepin County Library News Release for more detail.

Increase Your Gardening Know-How at Hennepin County Library Master Gardener Presentations

Increase your gardening know-how by learning from Master Gardeners in the off-season at Hennepin County libraries.  In March, ninepresentations  are scheduled on these topics: Small Space Vegetable Gardening, Advanced Vegetable Gardening, Community Gardening, Best Plants for Tough Sites, Butterflies (for children), and Annual Flowers for Minnesota.

Presentations will be supplemented with slides or PowerPoint images plus handouts on gardening, lawn care, and landscaping.

Classes begin in March and continue through May.

Visit the Hennepin County Library Newsroom for more information.