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Date:	Oct. 2, 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 Oct. 2, 2018, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board approves conveyance of tax-forfeited land parcels, puts 2 up for auction
The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed to the conveyance of parcels of tax-forfeited land to a homeowners association and government entities Oct. 2, and agreed to put two parcels up for public auction Nov. 9.
One parcel will be conveyed to the Whistling Valley Homeowners Association in Lake Elmo. The homeowners association was entitled to the property under a written agreement with the developer, but the conveyance failed to occur prior to forfeiture. The parcel contains the association's community septic system, plus drainage, utility, and conservation easements managed by the City of Lake Elmo. The city supports the conveyance, and the homeowners association provided the required documentation.
Two other parcels of tax-forfeited land were conveyed to Denmark Township and the City of Lake St. Croix Beach for public use. Denmark Township will use one parcel along Norell Road South for road right-of-way, and the City of St. Croix Beach will use another parcel along Queens Avenue South for recreational trails.
Garage units near Terra Springs on North Main Street in Stillwater were conveyed to the City of Stillwater. The city will pay $1,500 for the three units.
The County Board also approved selling two tax-forfeited properties at public auction. One is a condominium in Oakdale, and the other is a vacant commercial lot in Woodbury. The public auction will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, in Conference Room Lower Level 14 in the county Government Center, 14949 N. 62nd St. in Stillwater.
Contact: Steve Gransee, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Division Manager, 651-430-8272

County Board recognizes October as Cyber Security Awareness Month
The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized October as Cyber Security Awareness Month Oct. 2.
The Federal Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance have sponsored October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month since 2004. Cyber
Security Awareness Month is designed to educate public and private sector partners with the goal to raise awareness about risks and issues surrounding information security.
Washington County's Information Technology Department works diligently to ensure the protection of data systems and information. In 2018, all county staff were required to participate in SANS – or SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security – Securing the Human Training, and the County Board participated in a workshop that provided information on the risks and threats of cyber attacks, and how to protect themselves and the organization from cyber attacks.
Contact: Renee Heinbuch, Information Technology Director, 651-430-6421

County Board approves mission directed budget projects
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved county projects to be paid for with funds from the county’s Mission Directed Budget (MDB) savings program Oct. 2.
The county's MDB savings program identifies 25 percent of the unassigned yearend revenues over expenditures to be used for projects of countywide benefit that increase efficiencies and support the county's mission and goals. The amount of the MDB savings available to allocate is $487,200, which includes a small amount of unallocated funds from prior years. Sixteen projects totaling nearly $1.1 million were submitted by departments for consideration by the county administrator. Six projects totaling $313,500 are being recommended for approval. The projects that were approved for funding are:
* Quality Improvement Plan Training for $10,000;
* Stepping Up Initiative for $78,500;
* Human Resources Performance Evaluation Training for $30,000;
* Human Resources Information System Project Phase II for $100,000;
* Public Works Automated Door Lock Project for $45,000; and
* Public Works Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for $50,000.
Use of the MDB savings program allows the county to fund these one?time expenditures without adding additional pressure to the county’s property tax levy.
An additional three projects totaling $172,200 were included in the county's 2019 proposed budget, and will become part of the adopted budget, if approved, later in December. Those are:
* Human Resources recruitment project/consultant to enhance the county's recruitment initiatives to capture targeted populations, including passive job seekers; increase the number and quality of candidates; and promote Washington County as an "Employer of Choice" for $65,000;
* Library social media specialist to expand followers and engagement, as well as allow the county to hear the wants and needs of the community for $19,700;
* Sheriff's Office upgrade in to the public safety radio system for $87,500.
Contact: Kevin Corbid, Deputy Administrator, 651-430-6003


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Government Center  •  14949 62nd Street North — P.O. Box 6, Stillwater, Minnesota 55082-0006
Phone:  651-430-6001  •  Fax:  651-430-6017  •  TTY:  651-430-6246
www.co.washington.mn.us
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