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Date:	June 12, 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 June 12, 2018, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board approves comments on draft comprehensive plans for cities of Mahtomedi, Maplewood
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved staff comments prepared following reviews of draft comprehensive plans for the cities of Mahtomedi and Maplewood June 12.
All local government units 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.
In commenting on Mahtomedi’s plan, the county noted its additional waste recycling plans, and encouraged the city to add opportunities to recycle in public spaces. County comments noted, “The county is encouraged by the reinvigoration of the city’s downtown and commercial areas, paying particular attention to using land that respects the natural environment,” and encouraged the city to work with the county to establish locations for compost drop-off sites in the city. The county also commended the city on the inclusion of affordable housing as a pertinent issue facing the community. The county did ask the city to be sure that its plans for the upgrades for County State Aid Highway 12 are comparable to those of the county.
In commenting on the City of Maplewood’s plans, the county commended the city for recently built and planned multifamily developments in the city that increase housing options, and the city’s plans to guide the city toward more density in housing. The county also thanked the city for its contributions to the joint transitway planning efforts on the METRO Gold Line.
Contact: Colin Kelly, Senior Planner, 651-430-6011

County Board approves agreement for funds for watershed funding program
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of agreement between the county, the Washington Conservation District, and the eight watershed management organizations in the county June 12 that outlines how to distribute $787,000 for a watershed-based funding pilot program.
The money is from the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Last December, BWSR announced a pilot funding program which awards money to metro water planning entities, along with partnerships that have completed a One Watershed One Plan in greater Minnesota. Based on land area, water planning entities in Washington County received $787,000.
Representatives from the eight watershed organizations, Washington Conservation District, and Washington County, along with BWSR staff, began meeting in February to discuss funding options and how to engage cities/towns. An information and discussion session was conducted with cities and townships to discuss funding options, which determined that the preferred alternative is to split the available funds equally among the 10 water planning entities for the pilot round of funding.
Each party is responsible for entering into its own grant agreement with BWSR.
The county will use its funds to implement the county Groundwater Plan. The proposed activities include well sealing, well sealing outreach and inventory, increased education on septic systems and groundwater, and identifying potential water reuse projects.
Contact: Jessica Collin-Pilarski, Senior Planner, 651-430-6703

Culvert replacement in Afton will not require environmental impact statement
A box culvert carrying Valley Branch Creek under County State Aid Highway 21 in Afton can be replaced without Washington County doing an environmental impact statement for the project.
The County Board approved a report stating there is no need for the study June 12.
The project involves replacing the bridge near 15th Street. The box culvert under the bridge, which carries the protected trout stream under the roadway, is nearly 100 years old. During this time, the creek has changed its course, entering the culvert at an angle. The entrance angle of the creek has caused the culvert to undergo significant deterioration at and below the normal water line. The project will place the culvert on a skew and realign the creek approach to the culvert, eliminating future changes.
A discretionary Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was prepared to evaluate the project's potential social, environmental, and economic impacts, and mitigation measures. The primary purpose of the worksheet is to determine if an Environmental Impact Statement is needed. A copy of the worksheet is on the project web page on the county website for review, it was distributed in March to the appropriate agencies, and copies were made available for public review. Responses to the EAW are:
* Office of the State Archaeologist - recommends performing a Phase I Archaeological Survey;
* State Historic Preservation Office - recommends performing a Phase I Archaeological Survey;
* Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - include floodplain and shoreland management area zoning;
* Metropolitan Council - no comments;
* Minnesota Department of Transportation - no comments; and
* Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - no comments.
The Archaeological Study was performed, and no archaeological sites or historically significant structures were identified. As a result, no further cultural resource work is recommended.
Contact: Allan Brandt, Engineer, 651-430-4348

Sheriff's Office receives donation from Forest Lake Lake Association for navigation aids
The Washington County’s Sheriff’s Office will receive a $3,800 donation from the Forest Lake Lake Association to purchase solar lights and buoys for navigation and safety on Forest Lake.
The County Board accepted the gift June 12.
The additional solar lights will be installed on current channel markers and the additional buoys will mark rock and shallow water hazards.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

County Board will conduct hearing Aug. 7 to consider naming lake in Cottage Grove
The Washington County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing Aug. 7 to consider a petition to name an unnamed lake in the City of Cottage Grove.
The hearing will be during the regular board meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board Room of the Government Center in Stillwater.
The county received a petition signed by registered voters requesting to name the unnamed water body Lake Robert. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lake identifier is 82-83W. The lake is south of Military Road, west of Jamaica Avenue, and north of 70th Street. 
By law, the petition must be signed by 15 or more legal voters. County staff verified the petition meets the requirement. After the hearing is ordered, a letter will been sent to the City of Cottage Grove, the South Washington Heritage Society, and the DNR notifying them of the petition and planned public hearing, and asking them to provide any comments on the proposed name to the county prior to the public hearing.
Contact: Jennifer Wagenius, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Director, 651-430-6182

County Board appoints representatives to 3M settlement workgroups
The Washington County Board of Commissioners appointed four members to workgroups related to the 3M Settlement June 12.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asked units of local government in the East Metro Area to submit names of individuals to serve as representatives on workgroups related to the 3M Settlement Agreement with the State of Minnesota. There is one working group and two subgroups. In addition, there is a Citizen-Business group to identify and recommend projects to the PCA and DNR for funding from the grant from the settlement.
The Government and 3M Working Group will identify and recommend projects to the MPCA and DNR for funding from the grant. The County Board appointed Public Health and Environment Department Director Lowell Johnson as the board designee, and Deputy Director David Brummel as an alternate.
To assist the Working Group, subgroups will be established to analyze options and deliver assessments and advice to the Working Group. The Working Group will review the work of the subgroups and provide recommendations on projects and priorities to the MPCA and the DNR for their approval. The Working Group will also share advice and recommendations with the Citizen – Business Group. This group will be composed of one representative each from the MPCA, DNR, 3M, Washington County, and one representative each from the cities of Afton, Cottage Grove, Lake Elmo, Maplewood, Newport, Oakdale, St. Paul Park, and Woodbury, the townships of Denmark, Grey Cloud Island, and West Lakeland, and the Prairie Island Indian Community. One representative from the Citizen – Business Group will also be a liaison to this group.
This group will meet at least once a quarter, or more frequently if needed, will be briefed on all work in progress, and will provide input on topics to explore. The Minnesota Department of Health and the Metropolitan Council, while not members of the Working Group, will be invited to consult on regulatory and policy topics in their area of expertise. The MPCA and DNR will assist and support the group, including preparation of project proposals and technical materials for meetings. The meetings will be open to the public.
The first subgroup on Drinking Water Supply will analyze options and deliver assessments and advice to the Government and 3M Working Group and the Citizen – Business Group for long-term options for drinking water supply and for treatment of existing water supplies that will improve the quality and quantity of drinking water for communities in the East Metropolitan Area.
The county representative will be Public Health and Environment Senior Planner Stephanie Souter.
The second subgroup on Groundwater Protection, Sustainability, Conservation and Recharge will analyze options and deliver assessments and advice to the Government and 3M Working Group and the Citizen – Business Group for long-term solutions for groundwater protection, recharge, conservation, sustainability, and for groundwater studies, and modeling needs in the East Metropolitan Area. The county representative will be Public Health and Environment Senior Planner Jessica Collin-Pilarski.
The Citizen – Business Group will identify and recommend projects to the MPCA and DNR for funding from the grant. The county’s representative will be Commissioner Jack Lavold, District 4.
To assist the group, subgroups will be established to analyze options and deliver assessments and advice to the group. The group will review the work of the subgroups and provide recommendations on projects and priorities to the MPCA and the DNR for their approval.
The Citizen – Business Group will also share advice and recommendations with the Government and 3M Working Group. The group will be composed of MPCA, DNR, and about 15 at-large citizen, business, and nongovernmental representatives who live or are working in the East
Metro Area. 
Contact: David Brummel, Public Health and Environment Deputy Director, 651-430-6662




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