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Table of Contents
New In 2006: Voter Assist Terminals
For Individuals With Disabilities
Southwest Transitway Study to
Result in Preferred Alternative
The 2006 elections will be held the following dates:
- Primary Election - Tuesday, September 12, 2006.
- General Election - Tuesday, November 7, 2006.
The 2006 elections will include federal, state, county and judicial offices. No city or school district elections are scheduled for 2006. The next regularly scheduled elections for city and school district offices will be in 2007.
New In 2006: Voter Assist Terminals For Individuals With Disabilities
Federal legislation passed by Congress, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), requires that each polling place be equipped with a voter assist terminal for individuals with disabilities. These devices are designed to provide voters with disabilities the opportunity to vote independently and privately. The State of Minnesota has certified the AutoMARK from Election Systems and Software for use in Minnesota to meet the HAVA requirement to provide a voter assist terminal. The AutoMARK will be available in every Hopkins polling place for voters with disabilities for the September 12 Primary Election and November 7 General Election.
How does it work?
The voters receive the same optical scan paper ballot whether they will vote using a pen or the AutoMARK ballot marking device. The AutoMARK is a tool - an “electronic pen” - to assist the voter in marking the ballot. The AutoMARK has special features to assist voters with disabilities that make it difficult to mark an optical scan paper ballot (i.e. blind, poor eyesight, unable to hold a pen). When the voter inserts the ballot into the AutoMARK, an electronic version of the ballot appears on the screen. The screen provides options for reverse contrast, enlargement for easier reading, or for being turned off for privacy if a voter chooses to access the ballot by using earphones and keypad. The recorded audio description of the ballot can be used in place of or in conjunction with the visual version on the screen. The voter makes selections by the touch screen, the keypad, or alternative adaptive method.
The AutoMARK ballot marking device provides voters the opportunity to review and verify their selections. Upon the voter’s direction, the AutoMARK marks the ovals on the optical scan ballot. The voter then inserts the ballot into the ballot counter used by all voters in the precinct. The voting process remains the same for voters who do not need the assistance of the AutoMARK for marking a ballot. Votes are tallied by the ballot counter to produce precinct results.
Want to learn more?
Demonstrations of the new voter assist terminals will be available at City Hall six weeks prior to the 2006 Primary election.
For further information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 952-548-6304 or find more information about AutoMARK on the ES&S Web site: www.essvote.com.
Hopkins, along with other cities in the metropolitan area, has seen an increased incidence of Dutch Elm Disease (DED). DED is an immediate threat to Hopkins’ elm trees. This incurable disease has already infected many of our elms. Unfortunately, many face probable destruction.
Once a tree is confirmed as having DED, it must be removed immediately. Diseased trees must be cut down to the ground line in order to control the spread of the disease. Removing trees can be expensive. To help property owners defray the cost of disposal of a tree, the city will pick up and dispose of your diseased tree. These arrangements must be confirmed in advance by calling the Forestry Division at 952-548-6372.
As part of the Diseased Tree Program, the homeowners should take competitive bids for tree removal/disposal services for all trees identified as having DED on private property. The competitive bid process ensures owners that they are receiving reliable services at the lowest possible cost. If your elm has not been marked, but you are concerned about its health, a Forester is available to offer assistance to residents in the detection and sampling of suspected diseased elm trees. For information or to report suspicious elms, call 952-548-6372.
Trees are a priceless asset to your property, neighborhood and community. Residents are urged to maintain and plant trees, especially those lost due to DED. To encourage a community wide reforestation effort, the city plants trees for homeowners on boulevards and other city property (some restrictions apply). The city purchases these trees in the fall of each year at quantity discount prices. If you desire a tree on your boulevard, call the Forestry Division of Public Works, 952-548-6372.
Free one-day only brush pick up on TUESDAY, September 12.
Call 952-939-1382 by 2:00 pm MONDAY to schedule your TUESDAY pick up.
This will be the only free brush pick up this fall!
Southwest Transitway Study to Result in Preferred Alternative
Tired of being stuck in traffic with few good options for getting from Point A to Point B? Hennepin County and the cities in the southwest metro area are presently looking at transitway alternatives that would improve your ability to get around throughout a corridor that goes from Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, through Hopkins and St. Louis Park, into Downtown Minneapolis. Rapid growth in the southwest metro area is putting more demands on our existing roads and transit systems. By 2030, cities in this area are expected to add 63,000 residents and 79,000 jobs.
The “Southwest Transitway” is a proposed high frequency transit line that would connect southwest metro suburbs and downtown Minneapolis. The County is conducting an “Alternatives Analysis” to identify and compare a range of transit alternatives to determine which will best serve the growing needs of the southwest metro area. This fall, a committee will review technical recommendations as well as the results of an extensive public outreach effort to determine the optimal solution for a Southwest Transitway. They will select from three “transit modes” – light rail, bus rapid transit, or enhanced bus service. They will also recommend a route for the transitway.
It is important that the Southwest Policy Advisory Committee (SW PAC) hear from residents of the southwest metro area about their preferences, interests and transportation needs.
There will be several ways people can get information and provide input:
- Web site—Find out more about the alternatives being studied, and send comments through the SW Transitway Study Web site (www.southwesttransitway.org).
- Open Houses—At least three open house presentations at locations within the corridor will be scheduled for October 2006. Check the Web site and City newsletters for dates, times, and locations.
- Community Meetings—Hennepin County and city staff frequently attend meetings of interested citizens at their invitation. Just send a request for a presentation through the Web site, or call 612-348-9260 and leave a message. Every effort will be made to respond promptly and to attend scheduled meetings.
If you live, work, or play near the proposed Southwest Transitway we want to hear from you!
Recycling collection is July 10–13 and 24–27.
Refuse collection is July 3 & 5–7 (due to Independence Day), 10–13, 17–20, 24–27, and July 31–August 3.