Board Briefs – 3-24-20
Note: Due to public health social distancing guidelines established to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, Anoka County Board of Commissioners Chairman Scott Schulte was the only commissioner in the boardroom for the meeting. He was joined by a limited amount of county staff. All other board members attended the meeting via remote means.
Emergency Management Director Gives Update on Coronavirus
Terry Stoltzman, Anoka County’s Emergency Management Director, gave an update to the board about the progression of coronavirus throughout the area, social distancing recommendations and resources available for more information about the virus. He noted county buildings are closed, but Anoka County is not closed for business. County employees are still working to provide services to residents via email, telephone and teleconferencing measures. He said if residents become ill with flu-like symptoms and they’re having difficulty breathing, emergency services are here to help, but residents need to tell 911 operators about those symptoms so first responders can adequately protect themselves prior to arrival and rendering aid. Stoltzman said Anoka County currently has a COVID-19 information page, anokacounty.us/covid19, and the Minnesota Department of Health has its own website with information and resources, health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html. The MDH has a COVID-19 hotline for residents with health questions, which is staffed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – 651-201-3920. Click HERE to view Stoltzman’s presentation.
Residents Reminded to take 2020 Census Online
Chair Schulte reminded residents the 2020 U.S. Census is now entirely online and only takes minutes to complete. It’s important to have all residents counted, as the census is used to determine how much federal funding is allocated to counties and how many seats Minnesota will have in Congress. For more information and to take the census online, visit census.gov.
Transportation Projects Approved
Several transportation projects were approved, including Anoka County entering into a joint powers agreement with the City of Coon Rapids for a congestion mitigation project from Hansen Boulevard to Round Lake Boulevard in Coon Rapids. For more information on transportation items, click HERE.
April Proclaimed Public Health Month in Anoka County
Commissioner Julie Braastad, chair of the county’s Human Services Committee, noted next month is perhaps the most fitting time in the county’s history to proclaim it Public Health Month. The month was also proclaimed Child Abuse Prevention Month in Anoka County. To read the proclamations, click HERE.
Contract Approved to Study Opioid Deaths
The board approved a contract with the Minnesota Department of Health, as part of a study to gather and report information on suspected opioid deaths.
Parks Department Offering Programming Online
Commissioner Mike Gamache, chair of the Anoka County Parks Committee, said the Parks Department is offering online, educational programming via its Facebook page. Just recently, Wargo Nature Center presented a program on the barred owl it procured recently. Click HERE for videos and information from Anoka County Parks.
County Jail to Purchase Body Scanner
The board approved a purchase of service agreement with Quality Radiologic Consultants regarding the installation of a full body scanner at the Anoka County Jail. Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart said the Sheriff’s Office has been working on this initiative for several years, and it will enhance safety at the jail by allowing jail staff to quickly and thoroughly scan incoming inmates for weapons, narcotics and communication devices. To watch the video on this item, click HERE. For more information on this item, click HERE.
To watch the full board meeting, click HERE.