The idea was to host a bicycle clinic in the lobby of the Anoka County Government Center. Then the wheels started spinning -- and everything revolving around them has turned green.
"Greening Our Future" is the theme of Anoka County's version of National County Government Week, May 3 to 9. And like many things green this time of year, the event keeps sprouting new ideas and branching out.
"Let's have an open house and show what we're doing," Jessica Brokaw, the county's public affairs specialist, said Tuesday.
Master gardeners to replicas of wind turbines will be featured, and some 30 county departments will set up booths May 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., transforming the Government Center lobby into an environmental classroom.
The county has never done anything like this. In fact, it has never participated in National County Government Week. County Administrator Terry Johnson called Martha Weaver, the county public information manager, suggesting Anoka County take part. Brokaw then suggested having the open house.
"Realtors have open houses," Weaver said. "Why not us?"
At the various booths, the public can get information about victim services, libraries, road projects, even Sheriff's Office dive teams.
Andrew Dykstra, county director of facilities management, told the county board Tuesday that the county can use the event to show how it incorporates green technologies to help conserve money and energy.
