[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6223844,"mediaKeyId","3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc","parentId",3562057,"title","Anoka County committee advances homelessness contracts and opioid-settlement grants; expands naloxone access","audioSeconds",333,"startMs",1115000,"endMs",1448000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc&start=1115&end=1448","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc/thumbnail_1115000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223844/Anoka-County/Minnesota/Anoka-County-committee-advances-homelessness-contracts-and-opioid-settlement-grants-expands-naloxone-access","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223844-fa6a654aae4a2d735ea1367a3fd5f0c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105489&Signature=WmulCgp6LbdNeNzA9WxqdoWZjXLVKLWsFLPoDbaADDo8Tr2n0GvGIyGyxNc0Ug6krI~V-5J~v~ybaBM45ZWX5rwvmFERItUgqtZ544Kq-n8UG~EIVUe8lGa4stHvH0eaz-TbFi1XRLgad9hsvUkDmnCwtG47weslmK0FH-D~PTG6tBQCWYRcd2DRC8aui~aT4mTw2nJsKaVOM9BjSsgFg~oIlUwR0APzU2nFG23fW~tLHfef9UShEkdlOWv9YuffNvylli7Dt8-~vc~5f5i0mtR1-RbXDX2WuXA8PLT04ufaQk9m5hVqxgoGiqW9~-EXkRW-hUa5P3dMtIQdgBho2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Anoka County, MN","date","2025-05-28T03:16:49Z","article","At its May 27 meeting the Anoka County Board moved forward several human-services actions after a presentation by Commissioner Meissner and staff, including homelessness grant pass-throughs, a behavioral-health provider contract award, and updates on the county’s opioid-settlement-funded initiatives.

Commissioner Meissner said the county is amending a grant contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to pass through shelter funding and listed a contract amount of $2,060,465.32 for shelter funding through June 30. The board also approved a renewal with Stepping Stone Emergency Housing for adult services not to exceed $1,036,872.89 for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 term.

Meissner announced a new contract with Touchstone Mental Health for a psychological rehabilitation community support program serving adults. The contract (C0011566) covers services provided at a Fridley facility and carries a not-to-exceed amount of $1,847,163 for the period June 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026. “This will be starting from June 1,” Meissner said, and she thanked Lee Carlson Center for prior service while noting the county completed a procurement and transition in fewer than six months.

The committee also reviewed informational items on the Anoka County Opioid Solutions Initiative, funded by the county’s pharmaceutical opioid settlement allocation. Meissner said Anoka County’s allocation totals $18 million distributed over roughly 18–20 years. The initiative’s advisory council released an initial round of prevention RFPs; Meissner said roughly $750,000 will be granted in the first two-year round across about seven awards.

Naloxone access was another update. Meissner told the board that public naloxone kits were previously available at five county access points and are now available at 20 locations; the first launch placed kits in all eight Anoka County library lobbies. “This is a no questions asked, type of situation,” Meissner said.

An informational item noted a new service agreement with Alpha Emergency Behavioral Health; Meissner described that as an operational continuation under a new agreement rather than a new program. The human-resources slate and associated amendments were advanced by the committee and approved on the board’s roll-call vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Anoka County Board advanced homelessness grant pass-throughs, a rehabilitation-services contract, and opioid-settlement funding actions on May 27 after a Human Resources committee presentation.","taxTitle","Anoka County, Minnesota","taxId",8864,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223849,"Midwest Medical Examiner reports rise in homicides, highlights fentanyl and unsafe-sleep infant deaths",621,211000,832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc&start=211&end=832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc/thumbnail_211000.jpg","/articles/6223849/Anoka-County/Minnesota/Midwest-Medical-Examiner-reports-rise-in-homicides-highlights-fentanyl-and-unsafe-sleep-infant-deaths","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223849-2a306c5a2bf9b1613d5c833787af65cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105489&Signature=GhQjD2DdGoDJG2cyuBQ9F-wgMeJ57-SyXQHZRm6yRtvNfXKALytii8D4BmUNnQINE80oa6Nlkr2lhlysIJrQW~Ky2g7aLdflYQ06PzhrXHSKY4IxaaAKF5W0-CsPvujNQ2~39VBcS2ItZrL7IMBSWciBSYacIw1OsYoOUu8IvGGcaUjcXxHIBXFi7sIu2yScYzHBjj3IpPVGX8KRSuDN5eLUYYKf8-yFQTnaTZAxFcVHLj6Zg0oA~JPovlIM8HesVIxpnk3wieI4lkYL2HbvHyLydezFRx8d1dkETEsoxMZPiCigJqWda9f5yBiiXT27GoAEkDSCe6lDXNxLQ3suig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Quinn Piper, medical examiner for the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office (MMEO), told the Anoka County Board on May 27 that the office received 1,850 death reports from Anoka County last year and performed 346 autopsies.

“The office investigated over or had over 10,000 deaths reported to us from all of our jurisdictions and partners, and then we performed almost 1,300 autopsies, last year,” Piper said, summarizing MMEO caseloads across its service area.

Piper said the county saw a peak in homicides last year, with 11 homicides recorded and eight attributable to gunshot wounds; overall counts for manners of death included 155 accidents, 131 natural deaths, 47 suicides and two undetermined cases. “For homicides, there’s that odd number 6 that we hovered around, and then we had 11, unfortunately, last year,” Piper said.

The office reported a decline in motor-vehicle fatalities and in drug-overdose deaths since the 2021–2022 peak, but fentanyl remained the most frequently detected substance in Anoka County overdose cases. Piper said the MMEO’s forensic toxicology partnerships allow detection of novel and low-concentration substances. “Of the drug overdoses, however, in Anoka County anyway, fentanyl, was the most frequent,” Piper said.

Piper also called attention to infant deaths tied to unsafe-sleep situations. “Four infants died due to deaths associated with unsafe sleep,” he said, noting co-sleeping and other unsafe sleep placements as causes and citing American Academy of Pediatrics guidance against bed-sharing.

Board members thanked Piper and MMEO staff for their work. Commissioner Meissner said, “What a fantastic facility and operation that you all run there,” and Commissioner Jepsen added that the office’s work is “a source of pride” and is handled with respect for families.

Piper closed by noting MMEO’s role in facilitating tissue and brain donations for research; the office reported 17 donation cases last year. He told commissioners he would “see you next year” and concluded the presentation.","Dr. Quinn Piper of the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office presented annual statistics to the Anoka County Board on May 27, 2025, reporting a recent rise in homicides, fentanyl as the most common drug in overdose deaths, and four infant deaths linked to unsafe sleep.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223829,"Board approves $1.42 million 911 contract, boat-safety grant and donation for jail fitness equipment",140,1526000,1666000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc&start=1526&end=1666","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc/thumbnail_1526000.jpg","/articles/6223829/Anoka-County/Minnesota/Board-approves-142-million-911-contract-boat-safety-grant-and-donation-for-jail-fitness-equipment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223829-3f8258a2a1efb5a8af532ed69f12e791/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105489&Signature=K8VUWxfn4xyUFcZD2gP7m-Jl-f1VuM0j4G-NzVabeZsAQJQzAp6LexZD7GWuysOU6nLL5tBLANyF39nGJBUpxx1a39q~TmY1MumH3FFOVt5OH3GIuyCk0kInMKfE1O3nfnezkbYDHXzmV11PbpG5heY6-0VTi1dfNc~9~pFH4-FwhgLbg1A1TewC3XOebMvqCQgk9NyBfjHScFwiQzQywklCEVFOY~LGrZJb6iGPyiUJKFtP7XlBoFp7GICA~QQFgqcxtew~GdUZIHqrnuZnGF5d-xERbey5i8P5r6Ctx8xgBbL7UbNnO~g5GBDnNwLxpewZOdCUYOmtMT4~gc6rJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anoka County Board on May 27 approved three public-safety items on the committee consent slate: a $1.42 million 9-1-1 contract, a state boat-safety grant and a small dedicated donation for jail fitness improvements.

Commissioner Brasstead reported the Public Safety committee recommended three consent items. The board approved Resolution 2025-PS09 accepting a $1,600 donation from the Anoka County Scribe Prevention Coalition to improve workout facilities at the jail and sheriff’s campus.

The county also accepted the State of Minnesota annual county boat and water safety grant for 2025. Contract C0011541 provides up to $28,519 for the term Jan. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, to support sheriff’s office water-safety operations.

The largest item was a technology services contract with Invictus Apps Inc., doing business as Prepared, for 9-1-1 center services. The five-year contract (07/01/2025–06/30/2030) carries a not-to-exceed amount of $1,422,035 and will be paid from the county’s 9-1-1 funds. Commissioner Brasstead told the board the longer five-year term will save the county more than $200,000 versus shorter options.

The three items were moved and approved on a roll-call vote; commissioners voiced appreciation for the grant support and the cost savings negotiated in the 9-1-1 contract.","Anoka County approved a five-year 9-1-1 technology contract with Invictus Apps Inc. (Prepared) not to exceed $1,422,035, accepted a $28,519 boat and water safety grant, and accepted a $1,600 donation for jail workout-facility improvements.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223834,"Board approves Fridley roundabout agreement and hears county road-safety plan update",120,1678000,1798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc&start=1678&end=1798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc/thumbnail_1678000.jpg","/articles/6223834/Anoka-County/Minnesota/Board-approves-Fridley-roundabout-agreement-and-hears-county-road-safety-plan-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223834-43b1c6150fa335d0c291a56f788c8062/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105489&Signature=TJt6kRnQubA3sx23Cwp-zpz3rDdXYIohxrQXJv1uIlHqj~A4nYwlPGt7a254DHjGXJQj0cFFjuvRvHXZwgEw~84xVY2iBDiIWNUHXTp39bCEXNaUAENYhm~fJH8YUoIVHSenzVQ9tdTG0uj8yisHYFTnrRPsnzoyx3FZhi70m8fQPOdoXdSKiDKLMIewwcI8m-~iddo3klUzGNp7x-oDfdgLXR71qAbSUzpRqTeYKocK6TWsYjz~LEA0-UmtmcFR4igLumMgdpe3GFbx~jpPTC3fxH3l03QzNPVU~rQVgfkXfHKL3U8UwmsWzfLJTxDVSPGjcgm1okU-TfFIZRpajA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anoka County Board on May 27 approved a joint powers agreement with the city of Fridley to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Mississippi Street and Seventh Street Northeast.

Commissioner Jepsen said the transportation committee met May 20 and recommended approval of contract C0010687, a joint powers agreement with Fridley. The board moved and approved the measure by roll-call vote.

Jepsen also briefed the board on other transportation items presented to the committee, including reconstruction of Lexington Avenue where the project spans the cities of Columbus, East Bethel and Ham Lake and therefore requires separate contracts with each municipality. “There’s going to be reconstruction of Lexington Avenue in the cities of Columbus, East Bethel, and Ham Lake,” Jepsen said, noting separate contracts are required because the roadway crosses multiple jurisdictions.

The committee received a presentation on the county road safety plan update and the Safe Streets and Roads for All plan completion. Jepsen described the safety plan as a comprehensive roadmap for prioritizing projects and improving safety for all road users; he said he looks forward to implementing projects identified in the plan.

The roundabout agreement carried on a unanimous roll call; informational items on Lexington Avenue and the road safety plan will proceed through design and interjurisdictional contracting as required.","Anoka County approved a joint powers agreement with the city of Fridley to construct a roundabout at Mississippi Street and 7th Street NE and received updates on Lexington Avenue reconstruction contracts and the county road safety plan.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223839,"Anoka County adopts new fee schedule to include state-mandated cannabis licensing fees",224,1816000,2040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc&start=1816&end=2040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3562057-7242af885c6c4cb03bd737deae1865bc/thumbnail_1816000.jpg","/articles/6223839/Anoka-County/Minnesota/Anoka-County-adopts-new-fee-schedule-to-include-state-mandated-cannabis-licensing-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223839-45d9bc311f0261c3797ce9ea8b4317ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105489&Signature=m6gkWqo3rTF-C43z9VYQn8HN-KjChRKBAayKoWl~~XsqcrQ0ySw8i6GGW2Z47mdugh5un9lW4CN4GGskUP9gmLWxrlUvFHSuTVZIREkBvbllItB7JcN-P8zYo6dZ8XhzTZE2Vj4OBUEjyfwOTuoFFrq8PE-vImBz-33HzOcSBIhkoShDIYD4RUpvkC7tN~8g0m4MEv~l7XnaGTW1zvab8ixDvWV2f~83w9t40dvhV3RlOd7K1DNvUpsNmJ6C9ykFBs7l5s62uPcQLcQ6~RY6sxFlK6pswtXbL3eJMU0x7i52KmD22Z19tDEV~nZzGnHCI~xbmri-jf9KZ7~bb-rCQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anoka County Board held a public hearing on May 27 and adopted Resolution 2025-59 to update county fees, including new charges related to state-authorized cannabis licensing.

County Attorney Brad Johnson opened the public-hearing portion of the meeting and confirmed notice had been published per statute. Corey Kemp, Anoka County chief financial officer, briefed the board on the proposal and said the new fees were necessary to allow Public Health and Environmental Services to issue and process licenses enabled by recent state law changes.

“Normally, we do fees once a year in December to increase them. However, this time, we have special. We have a new, fee coming on board related to licenses around the cannabis, legislation that has been passed by the state of Minnesota,” Kemp said, explaining the timing and purpose of the fee additions.

No written comments or in-person testimony were offered; the county attorney called for speakers three times and received none. Following the closed public-comment period, the board moved and adopted the resolution. County counsel and staff confirmed the resolution’s adoption by roll-call vote.

The resolution updates the county’s fee schedule to include permit and license charges that permit Public Health and Environmental Services to process state-authorized cannabis business applications; the county recorded the motion and adopted the resolution during the meeting.","After a public hearing with no public testimony, the Anoka County Board adopted Resolution 2025-59 to add county fees related to cannabis business licensing and other fee adjustments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Anoka County committee advances homelessness contracts and opioid-settlement grants; expands naloxone access

Midwest Medical Examiner reports rise in homicides, highlights fentanyl and unsafe-sleep infant deaths

Board approves $1.42 million 911 contract, boat-safety grant and donation for jail fitness equipment

Board approves Fridley roundabout agreement and hears county road-safety plan update

Anoka County adopts new fee schedule to include state-mandated cannabis licensing fees