The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved the final AFSCME Council 5 Local contract, renewed an annual tradition at the government center and welcomed a special guest.
U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar presented the Board of Commissioners with a framed congressional record for meeting all federal benchmarks for ending veteran homelessness in Hennepin County. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the designation last fall. The record is of what Rep. Omar said before congress last week commending the county’s work.
For the veteran homeless population, the county reached what’s called “functional zero”. It doesn’t mean veterans are not experiencing homelessness or will not in the future. It does mean the county hit a milestone that shows they’ve measurably solved homelessness for a group.
Rep. Omar said, “While reaching functionally zero does not mean the work is done it formally recognizes the veterans experiencing homelessness will be quickly identified, sheltered and transitioned to permanent housing.”
The board went on to approve the 3-year contract of AFSCME Council 5 Local 2822 Clerical which covers about 1,200 workers in Hennepin County. The commissioners approved the other six AFSCME Council 5 Local contracts last December.
Local 2822 is getting a similar contract as the other locals:
- Wages will be increased each year by 4%.
- Employees who are not at the maximum for their salary range are eligible for 3% merit increase on their anniversary date based on their work performance evaluation.
- A 10% increase in the shift differential from $1.00 to $1.10 per hour.
- A 40% increase in the weekend differential from $1.00 to $1.40 per hour.
Local 2822 employees will get back pay for their raises dating back to 12/29. The Local will also be getting a raise to the top pay for 18 of its 27 job classes.
The commissioners also honored former DFL Sen. Kari Dziedzic who died last December following a battle with cancer. She served since 2012 and served as the Senate Majority Leader before her diagnosis. She was 62.
The commissioners are keeping a tradition going at the government center with free weddings on Valentine’s Day. Those will be held on the skyway and bridges at the government center. The wedding tradition started back in 2013 with the partnership of the MN Judicial Branch, and now 10 district courts offer free weddings. Spaces are limited and reservations are required. If you’re interested there is a link below.
Fill out this form:
fourthresearch.questionpro.com/t/AVjDqZ5EFt
Other items approved at the meeting were boiler and generator upgrades at the Adult Corrections Facility totaling more than $9.4 million dollars, and commissioners approved items advanced from committee meetings two weeks ago (for more on those meetings: Jan. 14 Meetings).
Committees meet next week on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. The meetings have returned to the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. They are held on the top floor in the west tower. There will be public comment when the meeting starts.
These public comments are not part of the recordings of board meetings, and the board does not discuss or react to comments. Any member of the public can address the board about county matters in person for up to two minutes on days where there are committee meetings. People can also leave a recorded message at 612-348-3100 that will be played during the public comment section.
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