CC PACKET 04272004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 13, 2004 03 Page 3 1 Commissioner Wiessner stated the County continued to work on welfare reform. She explained 2 the government changed all the rules approximately five years earlier; therefore, welfare was no 3 longer an entitlement program but a work program. She indicated those seeking public 4 assistance must be seeking work and they were encouraged to work while receiving training. 5 She added the economy made it difficult for welfare clients to maintain jobs and the decrease in 6 the childcare subsidy program had also been an issue. 7 8 Commissioner Wiessner indicated a handout was in the packet that gave details regarding the 9 2004 road construction projects; however, only a draft was available for the 2004-2005 projects. 10 She noted the County was just finishing its sixth year of work with the Silver Lake Road project, 11 which she added was almost complete. 12 13 Commissioner Wiessner noted the County recently opened its new law enforcement center and 14 was in the process of converting the old one into new market-rate housing apartments, along with 15 development at street level that would include restaurants and retail on Kellogg Boulevard. 16 17 Commissioner Wiessner stated the new jail was open and about one month after it opened the 18 sheriff came to one of the County's Board meetings and announced it was already full. She 19 noted the County had built the jail with a lot of expansion room and had intended to lease out 20 beds. She explained there were no plans to expand the jail, as the County was trying to live 21 within the available space. She added there was a lot of pent-up demand and, once the space was 22 available,judges began sentencing people instead of giving probation. 23 24 Commissioner Wiessner indicated another development in progress was the public works facility 25 on Highway 96, which was scheduled to open in October. She explained the County had 26 collaborated with the Mounds View School District, City of Arden Hills, Ramsey County library 27 system and the Watershed District; and each of these entities would be sharing space in the 28 building. She added a new sheriff's patrol station, which was a"little controversial,"would also 29 be at the new building. She stated this was a$36 million project that was "on time and under 30 budget." She noted some of Council had visited the County's old site on Rice and 694 that was 31 "past the point of needing to be replaced." 32 33 Commissioner Wiessner noted facts and figures regarding the Corrections Department were in 34 the provided packet. She stated the County was proud of its low recidivism rate. 35 36 Commissioner Wiessner indicated information was also included regarding the new suburban 37 court facility, which had been controversial for many years. She explained there were five 38 suburban court locations until a negotiated agreement was made that Ramsey County would 39 consolidate the courts from five to two. She stated, over time, the suburban facility had been 40 overcrowded and during the past year judges were suggesting the suburban facility be 41 eliminated; however, the County convinced them it would be good to keep the locations but 42 make improvements to the facility. She indicated a more central location was currently being 43 sought. 44