Press Release

Anoka County Employees Receive Awards of Excellence

The board recognized several county employees and groups of employees during the biannual awards of excellence presentation. The awards were submitted by fellow employees and encompassed several categories. To watch the presentation, click HERE.

Correctional Employees Recognized 

The first week of May is set aside to honor the brave men and women who work in the county’s Sheriff’s Office and Community Corrections Department. The board recognized these detention deputies, corrections officers and other employees at the county’s jail and correctional facilities. To watch the presentation, click HERE.

May 9 to 15 Proclaimed Peace Officers Week in Anoka County

The board adopted a resolution proclaiming May 9 to 15 Peace Officers Week in Anoka County. This week is to recognize the Sheriff’s Office and the 11 other law enforcement agencies in Anoka County that dutifully serve the citizens of the area. To watch the presentation, click HERE.

Longtime Employee Recognized for Work in Surveyor’s Office

The board commended Chuck Gitzen, county surveyor, for his years of service to the county and congratulated him on his upcoming retirement. To watch the video on this item, click HERE.

Sunfish Lake/Bunker to be Used as Detour Route

The board approved a resolution entering the county into a contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to provide payment by the state to Anoka county for use of Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Bunker Lake Boulevard. This summer, MnDOT will be completing a mill and overlay on Highway 47, from Pleasant Street to East Mineral Pond Boulevard, in Anoka. The work will require the closure of Highway 47 for about 20 days. During that time, Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Bunker Lake Boulevard will be used as detour thoroughfares. For more information on this item, click HERE. To watch the video on this item, click HERE.

Site Plan Design Services Secured for Public Safety, Correctional Facilities 

The board entered into a contract with Wold Architects and Engineers for site plan and design services related to county public safety and correctional facilities. The initial plan is for Wold to prepare up to four site plan configurations for County Board consideration in the fall of this year. For more information on this item, click HERE. To watch the video on this item, click HERE.

Funds Accepted for Dislocated Workers 

The board accepted funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for the COVID-19 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker grant. The grant total is $179,541. Funds will be used to provide employment and training services to dislocated workers and pay the wage and benefits for individuals who will be placed in temporary employment in disaster and recovery humanitarian jobs. For more information on this item, click HERE.

Letter of Support Given for Landfill Expansion

Due to the closure of the Great River Resource Recovery Plant in 2019, the metro region has since reached waste processing capacity, and the Minnesota Pollution and Control agency has issued an intent to review and possibly allow expansions to metro area landfills for municipal solid waste management. As part of this process, metro area landfills which intend to expand are required to submit letters of support from each of the metro counties they serve. Anoka County supplied a letter of support for the expansion of the Elk River landfill. For more information on this item, click HERE.

May Designated Mental Health Month in Anoka County

The board adopted a resolution proclaiming May as Mental Health Month in Anoka County. An estimated 13.1 million adults 18 and older in the United States have a serious mental illness, and 2.3 million youth have had a depressive episode in the past year. To read the resolution, click HERE.

Deadline Extended to Pay Anoka County Property Taxes

In recognition of the unprecedented disruption the coronavirus pandemic has caused, the board adopted a resolution granting owners of residential and non-residential properties one more month to pay their property taxes without penalty. This abatement will apply only to current year non-escrow properties with under $50,000 annual property tax owed for all properties owned by the taxpayer, excluding railroad and utility parcels. This abatement will also apply only if the first half payment is made in full by June 15. A completed application must be submitted to qualify for this abatement. This application can be found by clicking HERE. 

IT Purchase Order Approved for Microsoft Enterprise Agreement

The board approved a purchase order for the county’s Information Technology Department not to exceed $2,609.634.76 for the Microsoft enterprise agreement and server cloud enrollment. This is for the licensing of all the county’s servers, file, print and email functionality, along with all the licensing needed for the county’s PC operating systems and Microsoft Office licenses required for the county’s 2,600 workstations. For more information on this item, click HERE. To watch the video on this item, click HERE.

Absentee Ballot Video Used Throughout State

The board noted Anoka County’s award-winning absentee ballot video has been used by counties and other organizations across the state, including the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office. To watch the video on this item, click HERE. To view the video, click HERE.