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Date:	May 14, 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 May 14, 2019, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board reappoints watershed district managers
The Washington County Board of Commissioners made two reappointments to the South Washington Watershed District May 14.
Brian Johnson, Woodbury, was appointed to a sixth term and Kevin Chapdelaine, Newport, was appointed to a second term.
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 renews agreement with state for Sentence to Service program
Washington County will continue to offer Sentence to Service (STS) programs to clients, after the County Board renewed a joint powers agreement with the state May 14 that will provide $182,356 to the county to pay for the program for the next two years.
STS is a jail alternative program designed to repay the community for harm caused by an offender. STS allows the county to reduce jail costs and provide work projects that benefit county residents. The Sentence to Service program in Washington County contributes more than 73,000 hours of service to the community annually.
Contact: Ren Clinton, Community Corrections Division Manager, 651-430-6973

County Board approves liquor license applications
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the application May 14 for the renewal of an on-sale and Sunday liquor licenses for Cenco Farms, Inc., which does business as Afton Apple Orchard in Denmark Township.
The board also approved the application for a one-to-four-day temporary on-sale liquor license from Lake Elmo Aero, LLC, for a special event June 15 at the Lake Elmo Airport hangar and ramp.
Washington County processes all liquor licenses for the townships within the county. The county is required by the state to review the establishments’ insurance certification, and the Sheriff's Office and Attorney's Office complete compliance and verification checks. The applicants pay for the cost to the county for administration, compliance, and verification checks.
Contact: Steve Gransee, Taxpayer Services & Election Division Manager, 651-430-8272

Sheriff’s Office will receive money to fight drug trafficking
The Washington County Sheriff’s office will receive $143,391 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy to participate in an anti-drug trafficking program.
The County Board accepted the grant May 14. The term of the grant is through next year.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program is designed to provide resources to federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to coordinate activities to address drug trafficking in specifically designated areas of the county. The program helps to identify and disrupt or dismantle drug trafficking and money laundering organizations; reduce drug-related crime and violence; and identify and respond to emerging drug trends. 
No county match is required.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

Companies will provide construction inspection, administrative services, staking for construction projects
Three companies will provide construction inspection, administrative services, and staking services for road construction projects across Washington County this summer, after the County Board approved contracts with the companies May 14.
The board approval contracts with: 
* Bolton & Menk, Inc., in the amount of $550,000 for construction administration and inspection;
* WSB & Associates, Inc., in the amount of $251,081 for construction inspection; and
* Alliant Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $307,140 for construction surveying and staking.
Washington County will work on 17 projects this summer, with more than $40 million in construction costs. Washington County’s five construction inspectors and two survey crews will also work on the projects. The contractors will administer 15 projects, inspect 12 projects, and survey and stake 11 projects.
Contact: Gerritt Bangma, Construction Engineer, 651-430-4317

Arnt Construction Company will rebuild CSAH 12 in Mahtomedi, Willernie
Arnt Construction Company will rebuild County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 12 in Mahtomedi and Willernie, after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $6.7 million contract with the company May 14.
The contract is for grading, aggregate base, bituminous pavement, concrete curb and gutter, water main, sanitary sewer, drainage, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements on CSAH 12 in the cities of Mahtomedi and Willernie.
Due to increasing traffic volumes, and opportunities to improve pedestrian facilities, the County Board first identified improvements to the CSAH 12 corridor in 2014. Since that time, a new traffic signal has been installed at the Mahtomedi High/Middle School entrance. This contract will allow for completion of roadway and public utility upgrades on the segment of CSAH 12 from Highway 244 to the Wildwood Library.
The current roadway has pavement in poor condition, and high parking demands. Pedestrian facilities are poorly delineated, inconsistent, and not accessible, and pedestrians have difficulty crossing the roadway. There is traffic congestion in what is a truck, bus, and commuter route. City utilities, such as sewer, water, and storm sewer will also be upgraded.
The project will be paid for with highway state aid, a state grant, contributions from both the cities of Willernie and Mahtomedi, and funds from the state provided to maintain roadways that the state turned over to the county.
In addition to the construction contract, the board also approved cooperative cost share and maintenance agreements with the cities of Willernie and Mahtomedi.
Contact: Kevin Peterson, Engineer II, 651-430-4330

McGuire will be acting county surveyor
The Washington County Board of Commissioners appointed Michael McGuire as the acting county surveyor May 14.
The current County Surveyor/Survey Division Manager Michael Welling is retiring May 17.
State law specifies that the County Board shall declare its intention to fill the office of County Surveyor by appointment. The board adopted the resolution, and then appointed McGuire to the position. The county is required to have a county surveyor on staff to fulfill statutory duties and responsibilities.
McGuire is employed by the county Surveyor’s Office as a land surveyor and possesses a Minnesota Land Surveyor’s License, which is a requirement to serve as the county surveyor. 
McGuire will serve as the acting county surveyor in a non-supervisory role under the current term until the vacant county surveyor/survey division manager position is filled and a permanent county surveyor is appointed.
Contact: Don Theisen, Public Works Director, 651-430-4304

Adjusting trail elevation, width adds cost to St. Croix Trail
The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed May 14 to pay an additional $112,000 for the St. Croix multi-use trail from 30th Street to Interstate 94 in Lakeland.
Hardrives, Inc., redid the 4.1-mile trail, which received a new pavement surface, pedestrian ramps, a new bridge railing, and new trail signs. The final contract for the project is $473,756.
The original contract sought to remove and replace up to three inches of pavement, based on numerous pavement thickness cores taken during design. Once construction began, it revealed that the pavement thickness was as much as nine inches in some areas with the underlying pavement in poor condition. The trail was also wider than known as the edges were overgrown with turf due to its age. As a result, the full depth and width of pavement was removed and replaced with aggregate base and three inches of pavement over an eight-foot width to maintain the existing elevation of the trail. In addition, additional top soil was needed to prevent a drop off along the edge of the trail.
Contact: Allan Brandt, Engineer II, 651-430-4348

Lake Elmo Park Reserve modern campground will get new playground
The modern campground in Lake Elmo Park Reserve will get a new playground, after the Washington County Board approved a contract with Landscape Structures May 14.
The contract is for $141,546.
The modern campground has 80 camping spots and is near maximum capacity for the entire camping season. The current playground is 17 years old with limited handicap accessibility and a sand base surface; while well maintained, the equipment is out of date such that parts for repair and upgrades are no longer manufactured. 
The new playground will have new play structures for children ages 2 to 12 on a poured-in-place surfacing. Poured-in-place surfacing allows a safer and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible surface for the playground.  
The county chose to use the state-approved contract list for direct selection of a playground manufacturer and installer for efficiency in the selection process. The state goes through a competitive bid process and creates the approved contract list, which allows counties to directly select contractors off this list at an approved low price.
Total project costs of $167,000 will come from state funds for regional park improvements. In addition to the contract with Landscape Structures, site restoration and landscaping will cost $26,000, after the equipment is installed.
Construction is expected to start Sept. 9, after the Bluegrass Festival.
Contact: Eden Rogers, Engineer I, 651-430-4352


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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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