Our Mission:  Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and
the cooperation of dedicated people

Date:	March 26, 2019
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 March 26, 2019, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County will sell fuel to Oak Park Heights law enforcement through state contract
Washington County will sell fuel for the City of Oak Park Heights law enforcement vehicles through the county’s state contract, after the County Board approved an agreement with the city March 26.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office has a contract with the state for the 2019 Fixed Fuel Program for participants in the metropolitan area. The City of Oak Park Heights needs to buy 87 octane gasoline to operate its squad cars and SUVs for law enforcement. The Sheriff's Office will provide up to 750 gallons of gasoline a month to the City of Oak Park Heights for $1.6836 per gallon, plus applicable taxes. Any gallons after the 750 gallons per month will be charged the amount charged to Washington County by Mansfield Oil.
The contract runs from Feb. 1 through Jan. 31, 2020.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

Deputies will help with law enforcement at Final Four
Washington County deputies will help with law enforcement at the NCAA Final Four Basketball Tournament April 1 through April 9 after the County Board approved an agreement with the City of Minneapolis March 26.
The tournament will bring large crowds to Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Police Department has requested assistance from law enforcement agencies from around the state to provide security at a number of venues during the week-long event. Washington County Sheriff’s Office personnel will work alongside the Minneapolis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies from throughout the state to help ensure the event is a safe one for all who attend. Washington County will be reimbursed for hours worked.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

MRE will rent tower space from Sheriff’s Office
Mobile Radio Engineering (MRE) will rent space on the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Somerset, Wis., tower after the County Board approved a five-year contract with the company March 26.
The 350-foot tower, owned by Washington County, has no other tenants. MRE will install a UHF band radio site on the tower for its private radio network. Studies have shown no negative technological or tower loading impacts. The license fee will be $900 a month; it will increase each year on Jan. 1 to an amount equal to 102 percent of the preceding year’s license fee.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

County Board expresses support for 2020 Census Partnership
The Washington County Board of Commissioners expressed its support March 26 for the 2020 Census in a resolution honoring of the State of Minnesota’s One Year Out ‘til Census Day kickoff in April.
The launch date for the 2020 Census is April 1, 2020, making April 1 one year away from the official start date.
The U.S. Census Bureau is required by the U.S. Constitution to conduct a count of the population. The census information is used to allocate federal and state funding to communities, and census data determines how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is also necessary for the accurate and fair redistricting of state legislative seats, county and city council seats, and other voting districts.
The resolution noted that Washington County is committed to ensuring that every resident is counted, and notes that, because all the information collected by the census is confidential and protected by law, the county is committed to partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau and the State of Minnesota and will support the goals of the 2020 Census. The county will also disseminate 2020 Census information encouraging all county residents to participate in the 2020 Census, and will strive to achieve a complete and accurate count of all persons within the county border.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026

County Board endorses Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, receives Citizens Review Panel report
The Washington County Board of Commissioners endorsed the presidential proclamation that April 2019 is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month March 26, and received the annual report from the county’s Citizen Review Panel.
Each year in April, the President of the United States issues a proclamation to announce National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families. During April, and throughout the year, Washington County encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Washington County a better place for children and families. Ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children can help prevent child abuse and neglect by creating strong and thriving children, youth, and families. 
Research shows that protective factors are present in healthy families. Promoting these factors is among the most effective ways to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect. The factors are: 
* nurturing and attachment; 
* knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development;
* parental resilience;
* social connections;
* concrete supports for parents; and 
* social and emotional competence of children.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners thanked and honored all of its employees who work every day to help parents and families counter the problem of child maltreatment and abuse, and noted that the proclamation is also an opportunity to urge residents of Washington County to recognize the month by dedicating themselves to the task of improving the quality of life for all children and families.
The board also received an annual report from the Citizen Review Panel. 
The State of Minnesota has a federal mandate to operate citizen review panels (CRP) for child protection. Counties are not mandated but encouraged to participate in a CRP. There are six Minnesota counties that host a CRP. The mission of the CRP is "Citizens partnering with child protection services, advocating to keep children safe." Each year, an annual report is compiled to highlight activities and projects that the CRP completed over the past year in Washington County.
The group has nine members, and meets monthly. During 2018, the panel reviewed seven maltreatment reconsiderations in the county. It also had a discussion on the placement of children with kin in the kinship program, and attended a presentation from the state Department of Human Services Division Director on the overall issues of child protection. The group also reviewed presentations by the director of programs for The Steve Rummler Hope Network that informed the group about opioid addiction and prevention, and by staff from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota about forming effective public messages about child protection. The group also had a presentation by a community coordinator for South Washington County Community Action Reaching Every Student (SoWashCo CARES) at a CRP meeting. SoWashCo CARES is a community-led effort to assist children in that community with food, school supplies, and whatever they need. The group also heard from the Indian Child Welfare Act Compliance supervisor from the state Department of Human Services, which briefed the group on that particular law.
Members of the panel also took part in a number of training and discussion opportunities throughout the year.
Contact: Sarah Amundson, Community Services Division Manager, 651-430-6597

Extra land by South Shop will be sold to Xcel Energy, rent on remainder reduced
The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed to sell eight acres south of the county’s South Shop and Environmental Center in Woodbury to Xcel Energy March 26.
Washington County is the owner of a 60-acre parcel of land just south of the Public Works South Shop at the southeast corner of Bailey Road and Cottage Grove Drive in Woodbury, purchased for future expansion of its campus. It was determined that eight acres of the parcel is not necessary for the expansion and Washington County could sell the property. The county advertised the sale in the official newspaper of Washington County, and received one bid from Xcel Energy for $640,000. The bid is in line with fair market value of the property.
With the sale of a portion of the parcel, the county will reduce the annual rent of the remainder of the parcel, which is being rented by Novak’s Orchard, by reimbursing the tenant $1,260 of the $7,740 2019 annual rent.
Contact: Wayne Sandberg, Public Works Deputy Director and County Engineer, 651-430-4339, and Sharon Price, Property Manager, 651-430-4391

Final cost of Stillwater License Center remodel reduced
Washington County will pay less than expected for the remodeling of the Stillwater License Center, after all the bills are in.
The County Board received an accounting for the remodeling project March 26, and approved the final costs.
The Stillwater License Center was renovated to improve the customer experience and provide a space allowing for the proper separation of services required by federal law. Kraus-Anderson Construction did the work. Due to the aggressive schedule needed to complete the project to minimize the impact on customers, the contract was a not-to-exceed amount while plans and specifications were being finalized.  
Once complete, the cost of the project was reduced by $309,910 from its original cost of $868,433. At the same time, costs were increased $16,350 to pay for the replacement of an inefficient electrical transformer, mechanical system efficiency improvements, improvements to the existing burglar alarm system, removal of existing wall coverings and patching, replacement of existing door hardware, additional carpet, and additional power outlets, bringing the final cost of the project to $574.872.
Contact: Erik Jalowitz, Building Services Capital Projects Manager, 651-430-6227


A great place to live, work and play…today and tomorrow

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
Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action