Hennepin County installs a pay phone

Published 8:10 am Tuesday, August 22, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS — Hennepin County has installed a pay phone in its government center.

The Star Tribune reports the landline was installed this month in Minneapolis following county staffers’ requests.

Three pay phones in the buildings were removed during remodeling two years ago. Since then, staffers have routinely received inquiries about the pay phones.

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Joan Turpin has worked at the government center’s central information desk for a decade. She says people often ask about a pay phone because they need to call for a ride.

The county paid less than $100 for the installation and will pay $40 a month for service. The pay phone accepts credit cards and charges 50 cents for local calls. It can also place collect calls.