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Date:	March 19, 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 19, 2019, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board makes appointments to citizen advisory committees
The Washington County Board of Commissioners made two appointments to county citizen advisory committees March 19.
Bob Hervig, Scandia, was appointed as the District 1 representative to the University of Minnesota Extension Committee to a partial first term expiring Dec. 31, 2021.
By law, each county in Minnesota must establish and appoint members to an extension committee. The committee must have nine members, with two members being county commissioners appointed by the County Board. The committee discerns the particular needs of the county to implement a program fulfilling the goals of the people of the county and of the Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service. County extension work encompasses educational programs and services provided by extension agents in agriculture, economic and human development, community leadership, and environment and natural resources. 
Anna Zanko, Baytown Township, was appointed as a township representative to the Planning Advisory Committee to a partial first term expiring in December 2020.
The purpose of the Planning Advisory Commission is to promote the proper planning and development of Washington County. The Planning Advisory Commission is established according to state law to study, report, and make recommendations on amendments to the Development Code and the Comprehensive Plan prior to adoption of the amendment by the County Board; order the issuance of and amendments to Planned Unit Development Permits and Conditional Use Permits authorized by the Washington County Development Code; conduct hearings and make recommendations to the County Board on alleged violations of conditions contained in conditional use permits; and issue conditional use permits and impose conditions on nonconforming uses and conduct public hearings on those permits.
Contact: Alyssa Soderlund, Administrative Assistant, 651-430-6015

County Board approves comments on Stillwater, May Township plans
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved comments on the draft comprehensive plan for May Township and the updated draft comprehensive plan for the City of Stillwater March 19.
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 Metropolitan 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.
Comments on the plan for May Township included several references to the description of the septic systems in the township, especially regarding which jurisdiction permits the systems, and references to the county’s Groundwater Plan, and how it relates to the township.
The comments on the updated City of Stillwater plan made references to development and roadway plans for the area around the Highway 36 and Manning Avenue planned interchange.
Contact: Emily Jorgensen, Planner II, 651-430-4338

County Board approves contract with Lakeland Plaza for new library space
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Lakeland Plaza mall March 19 to provide 4,300 square feet for the county’s Valley Library.
The Valley Library has been in the Lakeland Plaza mall for almost 30 years. The county had planned to update the 3,500 square feet of space that the county had been renting to meet the current needs of the community. During the process, the space adjacent to the current library became available, and the county decided to renovate that space for the library. The space is larger by 800 square feet, which will allow additional space for the library's program areas, as well as additional space for library staff work. Moving into a new space will also allow the library to remain open while the new space is being renovated.
The new space will be between the current library and the Post Office. Construction on the $1.2 million project is expected to be from May to July this summer.
Contact: Greg Wood, Building Services Director, 651-430-6225

County Board proclaims Washington County a Purple Heart County
The Washington County Board of Commissioners proclaimed Washington County a Purple Heart County March 19.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Minnesota (MN MOPH), wishes to recognize America’s combat wounded veterans. The mission of MN MOPH is to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and, most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families. Chartered by Congress for combat wounded veterans, the MOPH is comprised of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat or by an act of international terrorism. Although membership is restricted to the combat wounded, the MOPH supports all veterans and their families with nationwide programs by chapters and national service officers.
MN MOPH Chapter No. 5, located in St. Paul Park, is comprised of combat wounded veterans who are dedicated to country and the veteran community. They endeavor to do better for each other and by each other always.
The Purple Heart is the only decoration that attests, without question, to the bearer having been in combat. It is one for which an individual cannot be recommended; it can only be earned.
Attending the board meeting for the proclamation was Glenn Boche, State Adjutant for the MOPH; David Bild, Commander, Chapter 5, St. Paul Park; and Paul Caven member, Chapter 5, St. Paul Park and his wife Christine Caven, a member of the auxiliary Chapter 5, St. Paul Park.
Contact: Ryan Carufel, Veterans Service Officer, 651-430-6587

Celebrating the designation of Washington County as a Purple Heart County are Commissioner Stan Karwoski, District 2, County Attorney Pete Orput and attorney George Kuprian, both of whom are veterans, Commissioner Wayne Johnson, District 4, David Bild, Commander, Chapter 5, St. Paul Park, Glenn Boche State Adjutant for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Commissioner Fran Miron, District 1, Paul Caven a member of Chapter 5 and his wife Christine Caven, a member of the auxiliary for Chapter 5, Commissioner Lisa Weik, District 5, and Ryan Carufel, Washington County Veterans Service Officer.

County Board receives report on Metropolitan Mosquito Control District work
Steve Manweiler, executive director of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, reported on 2018 activities of the organization to the Washington County Board of Commissioners March 19.
Washington County is one of seven member counties of the agency, which is governed by a board of 18 elected county commissioners, and oversees a 2,900 square-mile service area with a population of 3 million people. The focus of the agency is on larval control of mosquitos.
The report included information on the agency’s 2019 budget, set at $19.3 million. Of that, $18.3 million will come from a tax levy. The Washington County property tax levy will contribute $1.55 million.
Manweiler described the common mosquitos that populate the area, and that can carry viruses that cause illnesses. Distributing pellets in mosquito breeding grounds combat mosquito larva, whereas spraying combats adult mosquitos.
Manweiler noted the mosquito-borne diseases that the district combats:
* La Crosse virus, which is found primarily in children. There were no human cases in Minnesota last year.
* Jamestown Canyon virus, an illness that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. There were eight cases in the state last year, with two within the Mosquito Control District.
* West Nile virus, which caused 63 illnesses in Minnesota last year, up from 30 in 2017, 19 of which were in the district.
The agency also monitors the distribution of deer ticks in the metropolitan area. Manweiler said public education is the main focus to reduce the risk of tick-transmitted diseases.
Black flies, or gnats, are another focus of the agency, which does larval surveillance and control in area streams, focusing on the Rum, Crow, Mississippi, and Minnesota rivers.
Manweiler discussed the Mosquito Control District’s plans for 2019, which include:
* managing the budget and expenditures with a goal of maintaining service levels while minimizing impact on metro taxpayers;
* emphasizing disease risk reduction services, including responding to new vector-borne diseases;
* evaluating how the district’s control programs can respond more flexibly to increased weather variability; 
* creating a sustainability program in the district; and
* implementing long-term succession planning and key employee retention.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026


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