As Anoka County gears up for April, dubbed National County Government Month, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) provided the county board with this past season's buzz on mosquito control efforts, including a heads-up on the upcoming bloodsucker season, MMCD revealed. While residents brace themselves for the pesky insect swarms, they can stay informed and proactive by signing up for email alerts at MMCD.org.
Commendations are in full swing this April as Mike Gamache, chair of the Anoka County Board of Commissioners, highlighted the vital role the county government plays in the lives of over 360,000 residents, from the tireless services of the Sheriff's Office to the vast selection of over 1.3 million literary and digital resources available at the local libraries, along with the stewardship of nearly 12,000 acres of open parks, the meticulous management of more than 413 miles of highways and the answering of nearly 400,000 calls by 911 staff every year, Veteran Services assisting those who've served our country, and the Attorney's Office advocating for citizens while the Human Services staff tirelessly works to protect and uplift the most defenseless among us, a county's labor is manifold and ceaseless.
From pest control to paving the way for the future, the county is hitting the ground running with planned infrastructure improvements. Resolving notorious congestion and safety issues, a series of resolutions have been passed to pave the way for reconstructing the intersection of Centerville Road and County Road J/Ash Street, with more to follow on County Road J along the stretch to Otter Lake Road, including an I-35E bridge overhaul, set to commence in 2025.
St. Francis is witnessing its transformation as Shafter Contracting Co. takes the helm in the complete overhaul of Viking Boulevard NW, this move prompts a cascade of safety measures, including a newly inked contract with Michael Baker International, set to redesign the troublesome intersection of 7th Avenue NW and 165th Avenue NW — a site shadowed by tragedy with two fatal crashes, now earmarked for a 2026 roundabout implementation, with these strides in safety, the county government continues to forge ahead towards safer travel for all residents.
On the demolition front, Morcon Construction is bringing down the hammers on the outdated Rum River Campus tunnel system, effectively cleaning the slate for the future by razing the old landmark from May to November. As the tunnels crumble, the Government Center's fourth and fifth floors are poised for a major revamp, welcoming the Community Social Services/Behavioral Health post-demolition, as Cottage #9 on the same Rum River Campus takes its final bow.
In a gesture of support for law enforcement, a generous donation of $200 from Pheasants Forever will boost the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office K-9 program, whereas the outdoor warning sirens dotting the county are not being left to wail into antiquity; instead, they're getting a tech upgrade courtesy of a deal with Embedded Systems aimed at enhancing county safety procedures.
Finally, cutting ties with the past, the county has decided to unwrap itself from its decades-long association with Fogerty Arena, putting an end to a rights and responsibilities agreement that dates back to 1982, signaling that as public servants, they must always be ready to shut old doors if it means better serving the needs of today's constituents.
