This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

A Chat With County Commissioner Jan Callison

The 6th District commissioner discussed uncertainty of state funding, light rail and re-election plans.

Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison—whose district includes Minnetonka—wants people to learn more about Hennepin County and county government. As a group, county commissioners provide leadership and oversight for county government on services, which include transportation and public works, health programs, libraries, social services, law enforcement, corrections, public records and environmental services. Minnetonka Patch had an opportunity to sit down with Callison recently.

Minnetonka Patch: What district do you serve and how many years have you been on the County Board?

Jan Callison: I represent the Sixth District (there are seven districts in total) and I was elected in 2008 to a four-year term.

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Minnetonka Patch: What communities besides Minnetonka make up the 6th District?

Callison: Hopkins, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Wayzata, and Woodland.

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Minnetonka Patch: You are personally committed to making people more aware of county government. Do you think the awareness level needs to be improved?

Callison: Yes, we as commissioners need to familiarize the citizens as to the role and importance of county government. Most people see their local government in action—police patrolling their streets, snowplowing in the winter—everyday occurrences. They don’t see the sheriff’s patrol as much and the only streets we plow are county roads. Yet, we play an important role in most people’s lives with things like the county library system and HCMC (Hennepin County Medical Center).

Minnetonka Patch: You are starting something called the Citizen’s Academy. What is that?

Callison: It will begin this fall and consists of six, one-hour sessions with each session devoted to a specific aspect of county government and service. One session could be on healthcare delivery, another on emergency response and public safety.

Minnetonka Patch: Are you concerned about state funding for Hennepin county in light of the fact no budget agreement has been reached between the legislature and Gov. (Mark) Dayton?

Callison: Of course. At the same time, however, we don’t know the specifics as to how much we and other counties will be cut. For instance, in the case of HCMC, we do know the cuts in state aid will probably range from $25 million to $80 million depending on which of the three recommended budgets (Dayton, the state House and the state Senate) you look at.

Minnetonka Patch: What happens to Hennepin County if there is a state government shutdown?

Callison: The effect would vary because not all of our programs rely on state aid. During the 2005 shutdown, the courts ruled some programs funded in part by state aid were mandatory and the county was paid.

Minnetonka Patch: What is the status of the Southwest Light Rail project insofar as the state contribution this year?

Callison: There is no question that the project is more challenged that it was a year ago. The state contributes 10 percent with the federal government, local and county revenue sources contributing to the other 90 percent. Again, we won’t really know anything until a final budget is agreed to.

Minnetonka Patch: You have had a lot of experience in elected government. You were on the Minnetonka City Council for 15 years—the last three as mayor—before being elected to the County Board. Are you enjoying your present position and do you plan to seek re-election in 2012?

Callison: I enjoy it very much. It is challenging, but also very rewarding. Yes, I plan to seek re-election.

***

Callison and husband Fred Reuning have lived in Hennepin County’s western suburbs since 1987 where they raised three children who attended the Minnetonka Public Schools.

Jan’s introduction to government service began in Minnetonka where she was elected mayor in 2005 following 12 years of service as an at-large member of the City Council. Her professional career as a lawyer included stints as in-house counsel for a Fortune 1000 company, private practice and as an adjunct professor at William Mitchell School of Law. She has three years management experience as Executive Director of the nonprofit West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust.

Callison serves as vice chair of the Public Works, Energy and Environment Committee, chair of the Hennepin County Housing & Redevelopment Authority and as treasurer of the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority. The board also appointed Jan to the Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS) Board. The HHS Board governs the operations of Hennepin County Medical Center. 

Callison serves as the board representative to groups such as the Metropolitan Council's Transportation Advisory Board, Southwest Light Rail Transit Corridor Management and Southwest Light Rail Transit Community Works Steering committees, the Transportation Interchange Working Group, the I-35W Solutions Alliance, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control Commission, the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (Secretary-Treasurer), Hennepin-University Partnership,the Hennepin History Museum, the Metropolitan Library Service Association (MELSA), and the Twin Cities Community Land Bank.

Additionally, Callison serves in her individual capacity on the following non-profit boards: the Minnesota Housing Partnership, the YWCA of Minneapolis, and CornerHouse.

To "like" the Minnetonka Patch facebook page, click here

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?