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Date:	Nov. 6, 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. 6, 2018, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board sets public hearing for county’s comprehensive plan for Dec. 4
The Washington County Board of Commissioners set a public hearing for Dec. 4 to allow residents to provide comment on the county’s proposed 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
The County Board set the date at its Nov. 6 meeting.
All local governments within the seven-county metropolitan region must prepare a comprehensive plan and update that plan every 10 years. Comprehensive plans must be submitted to the Met Council by Dec. 31.
During the public hearing, the County Board will hear public comments, consider any recommended changes to the draft comprehensive plan, and take action to adopt the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, pending any final changes.
The public hearing will be during the board’s regular board meeting. Check the county website for time, as it will be during an evening meeting in which the board will also take comments on the proposed 2019 budget. The board meetings are on the fifth floor of the Government Center at 14949 N. 62nd St. in Stillwater.
For more information on the plan, see the county’s website at www.co.washington.mn.us and search for “comprehensive plan.”
Contact: Kevin Corbid, Deputy Administrator, 651-430-6003

County Board sets public hearing for county’s capital improvement plan for Dec. 11
The Washington County Board of Commissioners set a public hearing for Dec. 11 to allow public comment on the final 2019-2023 Washington County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
The County Board set the date at its Nov. 6 meeting.
The hearing will be during the board’s regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board Room of the Government Center, 14949 N. 62nd St. in Stillwater.
During the public hearing, the County Board will hear public comments, consider any recommended changes to the draft CIP, and take action to adopt the 2019-2023 CIP, pending any final changes. For more information, see the county’s website at www.co.washington.mn.us and search “capital improvement plan.”
Contact: Wayne Sandberg, County Engineer and Deputy Public Works Director, 651-430-4339

2 named to Brown’s Creek Watershed District
Sharon Schwarze, Grant, and Gerald Johnson, Stillwater, were appointed to the Brown’s Creek Watershed District by the Washington County Board of Commissioners Nov. 6.
Both Schwarze and Johnson will serve three-year terms that will expire Oct. 21, 2021.
Watershed district governance, required by state law, helps to control or alleviate damage by flood waters; improves stream channels for drainage or navigation; reclaims or fills wet or overflow lands; oversees water supply for irrigation; regulates the flow of streams; diverts or changes water courses; provides and conserves water supply; and provides for the protection of groundwater and regulation of groundwater use.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026

County Board approves civil rights plan
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a Civil Rights Plan Nov. 6, and will direct staff to execute the Minnesota Department of Human Services 2018 Civil Rights Agreement on behalf of Washington County.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services has directed county human service agencies to update their current civil rights plans to be compliant with federal laws. A written civil rights plan serves as a framework for the legal obligations a county agency has as a recipient of federal assistance; helps ensure that civil rights policies, procedures and practices are consistently applied across all program areas; and offers evidence of a federal fund recipient's intent to comply with federal and state civil rights laws required by Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
The updates are to ensure statewide civil rights compliance in the delivery of human services benefits.
It is the policy of Washington County that no otherwise qualified applicant for services or client shall be excluded from participation, be denied benefits or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in any manner on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, political beliefs, disability, or status with regard to public assistance.
Changes made to the Washington County plan were minor and related to clarifications of technical aspects of the plan.
Contact: Chris Sorenson, Community Services Director, 651-430-6461

Marine Library will receive $6,000 from Jordan bequest
The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed Nov. 6 to provide the City of Marine on St. Croix with $6,000 from the Jordan bequest to be used for materials and services at the Marine Community Library.
In 2001, Elizabeth Jordan made a bequest in her will to the Washington County Library to be used for the Marine Library branch. When the county branch was closed in 2012, an agreement was reached between the City of Marine and the county that, upon request of the city, the county would disburse funds from the bequest to support the Marine Community Library.
Through a joint powers agreement between the city and the county, the city residents have maintained access to the county library system and continue to pay the county library tax. A separate non-profit organization, the Marine Library Association (MarLA) maintains a small community library, which includes privately-purchased materials, as well as materials and services provided by the county library.
The request from the city follows directives related to disbursements made to the Jordan bequest as specified in the joint powers agreement.
Contact: Bethany Venable, Communications Specialist, 651-275-8504

Schreiber Mullaney Construction will do remodeling on Government Center campus
Schreiber Mullaney Construction will do remodeling on the Washington County Government Center campus to build an on-site employee clinic and offices for the county’s crisis response unit that will be activated at the beginning of 2019.
The County Board agreed to a $93,275 contract with the company Nov. 6. The county contracts with the company to do as-needed construction for the county.
The on-site employee clinic will provide health services to county employees at the Government Center in an effort to reduce health care costs for the county. The crisis response unit will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to calls from residents about anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. The county will add staff for the crisis response unit.
Contact: Erik Jalowitz, Building Services Capital Project Manager, 651-430-6227

Sheriff’s Office will receive state funds for emergency management
The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted a $105,519 grant Nov. 6 from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, to support the Sheriff’s Office emergency operations.
The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) provides financial assistance for the administration of local emergency management programs which meet state and federal requirements.
The EMPG grant funds cover personnel costs, including salary, overtime, and fringe benefits for the Washington County Emergency Operations Center staff. The grant does require a 100 percent match, which is covered by general property tax levy dollars.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

County Board receives update on Marine on St. Croix Community Library
The Washington County Board of Commissioners received an update Nov. 6 from the Marine Library Association (MarLA) on the activities and services provided by MarLA at the Marine on St. Croix Community Library.
Mary Burke, board chair of the volunteer library, reported to the County Board, and was accompanied by Jim Maher, a board member, and Marine on St. Croix Mayor Bill Miller.
The library is celebrating its seventh birthday. Activities over the course of the past year included the library hosting almost 1,900 at 26 events, creating a partnership with local groups to upgrade the audio-visual equipment in the Marine Village Hall, and purchasing new computers and carpet for the library. The library circulated 4,000 items during the year, and added 259 books to its collection. It is also host to children’s summer science and art camps, family game nights, and film festivals.
Burke thanked the staff at the county’s Hardwood Creek Library and the County Board for their support of the library.
The Washington County Library works with the Marine Community Library to maintain and support the community library and to ensure that Marine residents continue to have access to the comprehensive library services provided by the county.
Contact: Bethany Venable, Communications Specialist, 651-275-8504

County Board approves lease, architect for Valley Branch Library upgrade
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a new lease agreement for Valley Branch Library Nov. 6, and an agreement with an architect to design improvements to the library.
The Valley Branch Library is in a leased space in Lakeland Plaza in Lakeland. The new lease extends the current agreement for 10 years, and also expands the size of the library within the building and increases the size of the space from 2,500 square feet to 3,500 square feet. The additional space will allow for improvements and expansion of library spaces and services for patrons in the Lower St. Croix Valley. The new lease will cost $45,500 a year, with a 2 percent increase in years three, six, and nine.
HCM Architects was hired to identify options to remodel or relocate Valley Library and to provide plans for possible library layouts within the leased spaces. The new contract with the firm covers the next steps in designing upgrades to the library, and provides construction oversight and administration services throughout the project.
Proposed remodeling for the library would include more space for public programs, and more space for restrooms, vestibules, and mechanical equipment.
The architectural services will include designing the new space, community engagement, and construction administration. It is expected that the design, construction, and new technology for an expanded and remodeled library will cost $1.2 million.
The project will be designed by March of next year, with construction planned for April through June of next year.
Contact: Greg Wood, Building Services Director, 651-430-6225

County streamlines process to provide annual park passes to veterans, active military, surviving spouses
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a policy Nov. 6 that will provide free Washington County Park annual vehicle permits to qualified veterans, current active duty military personnel, and surviving military spouses.
The county previously had a number of policies regarding providing park passes to those qualified, and the changes provides annual passes to more veterans, including:
* veterans who have any level of service-connected disability upon the presentation of proper identification and/or a copy of their determination letter;
* the spouse of any currently deployed military personnel upon the presentation of proper identification and/or a copy of their determination letter;
* military personnel on leave and/or visiting within 90 days of leaving active service upon the presentation of proper identification and/or a copy of their determination letter; and.
* the surviving spouse of a military personnel who is receiving dependency and indemnity compensation.
The county provided just more than 330 daily and annual permits in 2017 under a number of former policies. Streamlining the policies is expected to make the process more convenient for veterans and their families, and more efficient for county staff. It also creates a consistency with the state’s Department of Natural Resources’ policies.
During the meeting, retired Colonel Mark Weins received an annual park pass. A resident of Stillwater, Wiens served in both the Army and the Army National Guard, with more than 20 years of active service. He had multiple deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other posts, and received two Bronze Stars and two Legions of Merit for meritorious conduct.
Contact: Sandy Breuer, Parks Director, 651-430-4371

Retired Col. Mark Wiens was a recipient of a free annual Washington County Parks pass under a program the County Board approved Nov. 6 to provide passes to veterans, their spouses, or their surviving spouses. Wiens is shown with county commissioners Stan Karwoski, District 2, Lisa Weik, District 5, Fran Miron, District 1, Gary Kriesel, District 3, and Jack Lavold, District 4.

TDKA will create plans for upgrading Lake Elmo Park Reserve
TDKA will design upgrades for Lake Elmo Park Reserve, after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $214,707 contract with the company Nov. 6.
Planned improvements within Lake Elmo Park Reserve focus on the modern campground and the area around the Eagle Point Trail on the west side of the park.
Lake Elmo Park Reserve is the county’s most popular park, and has a half million visitors each year.
The modern campground was built in the 1980s and has 80 campsites. On-going maintenance of the electrical system within the campground has become costly and inefficient. The proposed project will replace the entire electrical system within the campground, and consider adding 50-amp hook-ups to accommodate larger campers and RVs that require more electricity to run, as the campground has only 20- or 30-amp hook-ups.
The project will review the addition of water and sewer hook-ups, as well as the replacement of the playground at the modern campground.
Eagle Point Trail is on the west side of the park and runs for about four miles around Eagle Point
Lake. This is a turf trail that is used for hiking, biking, and cross-county skiing in the winter. The project will regrade segments of the trail that have drainage problems. To get to Eagle Point Trail, users may park in the existing parking lot within the park, or have been parking on the west border of the park along Inwood Avenue (County Highway 13). Having park visitors parking along Inwood Avenue or other local side streets is dangerous, as they cross a high-speed roadway. To address this problem, the project will include the addition of a gravel parking lot off of Inwood Avenue within the park.
The project will include improvements to the Eagle Point Lake parking lot. Improvements will include demolition of the Snow Shoe Shack building. A trailhead kiosk could also be added to this area with benches, interpretive signs, landscaping, and a drinking fountain.
The overall park improvement project budget is $2.5 million. Project construction is scheduled to begin in 2019 after the camping season ends, and will be funded with a combination of county funds, state sales tax, and state and Metropolitan Council funds.
Contact: Sandy Breuer, Parks Director, 651-430-4371

County approves county All Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an update to the county All Hazard Mitigation Plan Nov. 6.
All Hazard Mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. It is most effective when implemented under a comprehensive, long-term mitigation plan. Mitigation plans are key to breaking the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. The Washington County Sheriff's Office has completed the most recent update to the Washington County All Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is updated every five years.
The original plan was approved in 2006, and updated in 2011 and 2013. An amendment was added in 2013-2014, and the current plan was updated over the last two years.
Work updating the plan engaged representatives from 25 cities and six townships in hazard mitigation planning to identify risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural and manmade disasters. Information was also gathered from other agencies, such as school districts, and from the public. All that information was gathered for the development of long-term strategies for protecting people and property from future hazard events, including identifying future projects. Those could include adding outside weather sirens, burying powerlines, or requiring safe rooms in some areas.
The plan can be seen on the county website at www.co.washington.mn.us by searching “all hazards mitigation plan.”
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

County Board honors Jean DeCurtins on his 100th birthday
The Washington County Board of Commissioners honored Jean L. DeCurtins Nov. 6, noting that DeCurtins will be 100 years old Nov. 19.
DeCurtins is a lifelong resident of Stillwater and Washington County. He served his country faithfully, joining the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Infantry, also known as the Red Bull division, prior to World War II. He is a decorated Army private first class who served in North Africa and Italy during World War II, enlisting on his 22nd birthday, Nov. 19, 1940. 
DeCurtins was injured twice during the war, and was awarded the Purple Heart, before being returned to the front.
He returned to Stillwater after his service, and helped form the A&D Last Man's Club, fashioned after Stillwater's original Last Man's Club, made up of 34 Civil War veterans. DeCurtins retired from working for Northern States Power Co. in 1981, and fills his days continuing to educate himself at the Stillwater Public Library. He is the last man of the A&D Last Man's Club, of which he never missed a meeting.
He will celebrate his 100th birthday Nov. 19.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026

County Board accepts gifts for third quarter
The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted gifts totaling $3,930.26 given to the county by public and private sources during the third quarter of 2018.
Cash gifts were given to the Sheriff’s Office from a private individual for the Explorer’s National Convention, and from the City of Landfall for the Cops and Cones program. The Library received almost $1,000 in gifts from individuals and donations boxes, from an Alcoholics Anonymous group that uses the library for its meetings, and from the Woodbury Lions Club. The Parks Department received almost $470 from donations from those touring the Historic Courthouse, or viewing the exhibits at the courthouse.
In-kind donations totaled more than $2,000, including the decals given to the Sheriff’s Office for its Suicide Awareness Squad, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors given to Community Services, and local merchant food and drink donations that supported the Historic Courthouse Ice Cream Social.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026



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Phone:  651-430-6001  •  Fax:  651-430-6017  •  TTY:  651-430-6246
www.co.washington.mn.us
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