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Council Meeting <br /> April 10, 1990 <br /> page 4 <br /> 1 County originally made arrangements to use the landfill in Medina. The <br /> 2 State said this could not be done so the County had to find another area <br /> 3 for the disposition of the ash which results from the burn plant located in <br /> 4 Minneapolis. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 Originally, a site in Illinois agreed to take the ash but . reversed its <br /> 7 position because of the high metal content of the ash. The County has <br /> - 8 now contracted with Seward, North Dakota to dispose of its ash in an. <br /> 9 abandoned coal mine. All. of the permits have been approved and the Commissioner <br /> 10 stated the residents of Seward are enthusiastic about the project as it <br /> 11 creates eight new jobs. The County still has the problem of disposing of <br /> 12 other materials. It is his observation that the waste stream will be greatly <br /> 13 reduced with the elimination of yard wastes. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Hennepin County is looking toward building a new jail facility by 1995• At <br /> 16 the present site, the crowding puts the County in violation of state and <br /> 17 federal regulations. The .site for the new jail is the land where the Armory <br /> 18 building is located. The property is owned by the State National Guard at <br /> 19 present. He noted that the Mayor of Minneapolis had suggested another use for <br /> 20 this building but the County prevailed in its request for placing the new <br /> 21 jail facility there. It would have cost approximately 14 -15 million dollars <br /> 22 to purchase land at another location. The cost of the entire facility and <br /> 23 land acquisition will be approximately one-hundred and thirty million dollars. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 Commissioner Sivanich stated that Hennepin County is in very good condition <br /> 26 with an AAA credit rating which allows the County to borrow at favorable interes <br /> 27 rates. He felt the only large problem facing the Hennepin County Board in the <br /> 28 upcoming.. year is the limitations on tax levies. He noted that presently the <br /> 29 County purchases .services from private vendors and contractural services. <br /> 30 With a potential of a twenty million dollar decrease in property taxes there <br /> 31 may be some program cuts in human services and other programs which address <br /> 32 individual needs. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Commissioner Sivanich has been in public service for twenty-two years and <br /> 35 recently announced he is not seeking re-election to the County Board. He <br /> 36 stated he enjoys living in the City of St. Anthony and has always enjoyed <br /> 37 working with the City. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo stated he has always found. Commissioner Sivanich responsive <br /> 40 to the concerns of St. Anthony and its residents. He noted that Councilmember <br /> 41 Makowske Is seeking election to the Sixth District Commissioner's seat. <br /> 42 <br /> ' 43 Councilmember Marks thanked the Commissioner for all of his assistance to the <br /> 44 Youth Service Bureau and for the City's library. <br /> 45 <br /> 46 Councilmember Marks inquired what activity there -has been from Hennepin <br /> 47 County regarding the Light Rail Transit issue. The Commissioner responded <br /> 48 that Hennepin County appears to be the only entity in a position to put a <br /> 49 light rail corridor together. He noted that the Legislature has taken some <br /> 50 interest in the issue and is indicating that the funding being considered for • <br />