Hennepin County commissioners host constituent coffee at library

Although neither is on the ballot this fall, 5th District Commissioner Debbie Goettel and 6th District Commissioner Chris LaTondresse are on the job. 

Both co-hosted a coffee with commissioners meeting on Saturday, Oct. 8, where they discussed several county initiatives, ranging from affordable housing to health and human services. They also took questions from constituents.

Goettel and LaTondresse’s districts share representation of Eden Prairie.

“$246 million of federal funding for pandemic relief represents a monumental opportunity to strengthen safety nets and establish opportunity ladders with smart, long-term investments to build a better future,” LaTondresse said. 

Some examples cited by the two commissioners: 

• Hotels acquired by the county for COVID-19 isolation shelters are being transitioned to long-term affordable housing to help manage post-COVID pressure from the end of the eviction ban.  
• The county embeds social workers in police departments, including a new one in Eden Prairie this year. By proactively working with the vulnerable, these social workers have reduced the number of 911 calls.  
• The county provided $3 million in small business assistance to businesses in Eden Prairie that were struggling during the pandemic.

In response to complaints about pedestrian and bike safety from Bob Vollmer, Goettel and Latondresse outlined Complete Streets, a refreshed county policy that rebalances transportation priorities. Goettel invited Vollmer to follow up with her on his concerns about specific intersections.

The two commissioners brief Eden Prairie’s City Council at least once a year on how county programs affect the city. Their latest presentation from April can be viewed here.