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Date:	Nov. 13, 2018
Contact:	Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager
Phone:	651-430-6026, after hours 952-807-3723
E-mail:	yvonne.klinnert@co.washington.mn.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The following actions were taken at the Nov. 13, 2018, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board sets public hearing on 2019 fee schedule for Dec. 11
The Washington County Board of Commissioners set Dec. 11 as the date for a public hearing to receive public comment on proposed revisions to the county’s 2019 fee schedule.
The hearing will be during the board’s regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board Room on the fifth floor of the Government Center at 14949 N. 62nd St. in Stillwater.
The fee schedule is updated annually. The County Board approves all fee changes. By law, the fee schedule can only be adopted after conducting a public hearing.
Contact: Kevin Corbid, Deputy Administrator, 651-430-6003

County Board approves comments on draft comprehensive plans for several cities, township
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved comments Nov. 13 prepared by county staff following review of the draft comprehensive plans for a number of cities and a township within the county. 
All local governments within the seven-county metropolitan region must prepare a comprehensive plan and update that plan every 10 years. The Metropolitan Council is charged with reviewing local comprehensive plans. Before formally submitting local comprehensive plan updates to the Met Council, local governments must provide adjacent and affected jurisdictions the opportunity to review and comment on the draft plan during a mandatory six-month review period. Comprehensive plans must be submitted to the Met Council by Dec. 31.
The County Board approved comments for the City of Willernie, the City of Forest Lake, the City of Marine on St. Croix, the City of Pine Springs, and Denmark Township.
The plans guide future housing, transportation systems, use of water resources, parks and trails, and plans to encourage recycling and other efforts to increase sustainability in the communities.
Contact: Hally Turner, Senior Planner, 651-430-4307

Reciprocal agreement with Chisago County allows residents to use household hazardous waste facilities
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a reciprocal use agreement with Chisago County Nov. 13, which allows residents from Washington and Chisago counties to use hazardous waste services and facilities in both counties.
The agreement is especially beneficial to residents in the northern portion of Washington County because of the distance for residents who would otherwise need to drive to the Washington County Environmental Center in Woodbury. The per participant fee of $30 and the maximum cost of $15,000 is the same as in previous years.
The agreement has a five-year term and will start Jan. 1, 2019.
Contact: Adam Frederick, Environmental Program Coordinator, 651-430-6702

County will receive reimbursement from Met Council for purchase of park land
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved agreements Nov. 13, which will provide reimbursement from the Metropolitan Council for land that the county purchased to add to the Big Marine Park Reserve and the future Grey Cloud Island Regional Park.
The board purchased property at 18135 Margo Ave. in June. The Metropolitan Council grant will reimburse the county for 75 percent of the project costs, or $451,900, with the remaining 25 percent of the cost coming from the county’s voter-approved Land and Water Legacy Program.
The county also purchased property at 10870 Grey Cloud Island Drive for inclusion in the planned Grey Cloud Island Regional Park. The Metropolitan Council grant will reimburse the county for 75 percent of the project costs, or $435,100, with the remaining 25 percent of the cost coming from the county’s voter-approved Land and Water Legacy Program.
The grant requires the county to enter into restrictive covenant agreements on the acquired property, which state the land cannot be sold, encumbered, or conveyed without approval of the Metropolitan Council.
Contact: Sharon Price, Property Manager, 651-430-4391

County acquires land for inclusion in Big Marine Park Reserve
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the acquisition Nov. 13 of a lot in Scandia to be included in Big Marine Park Reserve.
The acquisition is at 14621 Margo Ave., and is a lot in Big Lake Estates. The purchase was initiated by the Official Map process, which is part of the Big Marine Park Reserve Master Plan. When a property owner purchased the property and then applied for a building permit, it triggered provisions of the park ordinance requiring the county to either grant the permit or commence efforts to acquire the property for the park.
An appraisal of the land was done, and the County Board determined that the land was appropriate for inclusion into the Big Marine Park Reserve. The appraised value of the property is $491,500, and the purchase will be funded by the county’s voter-approved Land and Water Legacy Program. A request will be made to the Metropolitan Council for reimbursement for 75 percent of the cost of the land.
Contact: Sharon Price, Property Manager, 651-430-4391

Board approves Sheriff’s Office’s contracts with communities
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved contracts Nov. 13 with the cities of Afton, Lakeland, Lake St. Croix Beach, St. Mary’s Point, and Lakeland Shores for law enforcement services for the coming two years.
Under the agreement, the Washington County Sheriff's Office will continue to provide law enforcement services to those cities. The county will furnish all necessary labor, supervision, administration, equipment, communication facilities, dispatching, and supplies necessary to provide the services required by the agreement. The cities will pay the county the direct costs of providing the city with the law enforcement services, including the full-time services of three deputies.
The term of the agreement is Jan.1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2020.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601
	
County Board receives 2 GFOA awards
The Washington County Board of Commissioners received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the county's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Nov. 13.
The certificate of achievement was awarded to 17 of Minnesota’s 87 counties for 2016, and 18 percent of counties nationally.
The county also received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the county's 2018 budget presentation from GFOA. The budget presentation award was given to six of Minnesota’s 87 counties, and 8.4 percent of counties nationally.
This is the 32nd consecutive year the county has received an award for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The award is intended to recognize and encourage excellence in financial reporting by state and local governments. The county's consistent participation in the program demonstrates its commitment to quality financial management practices and open and clear communication with its residents. The award has a direct impact when rating agencies assess the county's financial practices during the bond issuance process.
The financial report showed that the county increased its net position in 2017 by $35.6 million over 2016. The county’s total fund balance increased, while its expenditures increased over the previous year. 
The County Board also received the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the county's 2018 budget. The 2018 award marks the 21st consecutive year of receiving the award. To receive the award, the county’s budget document is submitted to the Government Finance Officers Association, and it goes through a number of peer reviews to determine if the quality of the document meets the nationally recognized standards for effective budget presentation. The award program began in 1998, and is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting. The budget document serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and a communication device.
The County Board also received a review of the 2017 financial information provided in the annual newspaper insert, which is the publication of financial summary information required by state law. The report includes a balance sheet; statement of revenues, expenditures; and changes in fund balance. It also has government-wide financial statements, which include statement of net position, statement of activities, statement of fiduciary net position, and disbursement of county funds of more than $5,000
Contact: Carl Jacobson, Principal Accountant, 651-430-6044

County will update payment systems in service centers, license centers
The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed Nov. 13 to purchase software and hardware to upgrade the transaction processing systems for the county’s four licensing centers and service centers.
Staff at the centers performed 300,000 transaction in 2017, and collected $37 million.
The new equipment is being purchased with the goal of reducing processing time and increasing efficiency. Each cashier will have a screen, credit card terminal, and receipt printer. The new system will modernize the check acceptance process, using an electronic format, and improve the audit trail. It will also integrate well with the county’s accounting system.
After reviewing demonstrations from three companies, the US eDirect Neptune point of sale system was chosen.
The one-time implementation costs will be $327,809, which includes licensing for 45 users, two licenses for software, testing, and training. The maintenance cost will be $95,750 annually for the next five years.
The new system should operational by the end of the first quarter of 2019.
Contact: Joanne Helm, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Deputy Director, 651-430-6195

County will work with Larkin Hoffman for legislative representation
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a contract Nov. 13 with Larkin Hoffman for state legislative representation.
The firm will work to implement the county’s legislative platform at the Minnesota Legislature, and work closely with county staff to arrange for research and testimony to support the county’s initiatives. The firm will also monitor bills, provide legislative consultation, and identify potential issues that may have an impact on the county. The firm will provide an end-of-session report of the activities provided and the results of the items included in the county's legislative platform.
The two-year contract will cost $48,000 a year.
Contact: Kevin Corbid, Deputy Administrator, 651-430-6003

County Board reviews Washington Conservation District budget
The Washington County Board of Commissioners reviewed the proposed budget for the Washington Conservation District 2019 budget Nov. 13.
The Washington Conservation District (WCD) is a local unit of government in the county dedicated to soil and water conservation. The organization preserves the natural resources of Washington County through conservation projects, technical guidance, and educational services, and is governed by state law and the Soil and Water Conservation Policy.
The district does watershed administration for Brown’s Creek Watershed District and the Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization, as well as water and conservation practices monitoring, education and outreach, urban and rural conservation technical assistance, conservation practices maintenance, aquatic invasive species prevention, and work under the Wetland Conservation Act.
Contact: Jessica Collin-Pilarski, Senior Planner, 651-430-6703


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www.co.washington.mn.us
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