Our Mission: Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and the cooperation of dedicated people Date: June 11, 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 June 11, 2019, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota County Board makes appointments to citizen advisory groups The Washington County Board of Commissioners made several appointments to county citizen board and advisory committees June 11. They are: * Katherine Dirks, who lives in commissioner District 4, was appointed as a business representative to the Workforce Development Board to a full term expiring June 30, 2022; * Thomas Yuska was appointed as a workforce development representative to the Workforce Development Board to a full term expiring June 30, 2022; and * Monica Ramierez was reappointed to the Workforce Development Board for a second term expiring June 30, 2022. It is the responsibility of the Workforce Development Board to determine the most effective designation of administrative entities, grant recipients, and program operators for the Workforce Service Area. It also jointly plans for collaboration, and provides for on-site review and oversight of program performance. Other residents were appointed to the Child Protection Citizen Review Panel. They are: * Susannah Barnes, who lives in commissioner District 4, who will serve in an at-large position for a full term expiring June 30, 2022; * Pamela Clifton, who lives in commissioner District 1, who will serve in an at-large position for a full term expiring June 30, 2022; * Judy Koch, who lives in commissioner District 1, who will serve in an at-large position for a full term expiring June 30, 2022; and * Ann Mozey, who lives in commissioner District 1, who will serve in an at-large position in a full term expiring June 30, 2022. The Child Protection Citizen Review Panel provides opportunities for members of the community to have an integral role in ensuring that Child Protection Service Systems are protecting children from abuse and neglect and are meeting the permanency needs of children. Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026 County Board proclaims June 8 to Aug. 10 Summer at Your Library As Washington County Library is entering its busiest time of the year, the County Board proclaimed June 8 to Aug. 10 Summer at Your Library. The library will feature programs and activities to encourage children, teens, and adults to make literacy a part of their summer plans. Summer at Your Library will offer an array of programs that encourage reading and exploration for all ages. The resolution approved by the board June 11 noted that reading is key to learning and the foundation of future success, and library users have an opportunity to become lifelong readers and learners by visiting the library frequently. It also noted that Summer at Your Library program participation can neutralize summer learning loss, and improve comprehension and memory skills for children and teens. Contact: Kim Ukura, Social Media Specialist, 651-275-8511 County Board will use grant to continue home visiting services Washington County will receive $730,080 to continue a nurse home visiting program for families who benefit from parental support, after the County Board accepted the grant June 11. The funding is for the next four years of the program. The money is from the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant that allows states to allocate resources for a broad array of services that assist needy families so children may be cared for at home, ending dependence of needy families on government benefits by promoting work and marriage, reducing non-marital pregnancies, and encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. In Minnesota, the funds are used for ending dependence of needy families on government benefits through the Family Home Visiting Program. Eligibility requirements include being a U.S. citizen, and having an income below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. The grant assists the county to support evidence-based home visiting work in the Healthy Families America model, as well as to provide general, shorter term home visiting services to eligible families. Contact: Jill Timm, Public Health Program Manager, 651-275-7286 Sheriff’s Office will receive grant to help pay for water patrol The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will receive a $21,500 grant to help pay for boat and water safety activities, after the County Board accepted the money from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources June 11. The money will be used to cover a portion of the full-time and seasonal personnel costs associated with boat and water safety activities in the county through Sept. 2. Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601 County Board conducts public hearing on selling capital improvement bonds The Washington County Board of Commissioners conducted a public hearing June 11 to receive comment on the county selling 2019 capital improvement general obligation bonds. No residents spoke at the hearing. After the hearing, the board adopted a resolution for the issuance of $33.5 million bonds, $2.5 million of which will be used for the county’s Land and Water Legacy Program. The rest of the bond proceeds will provide for: * Wildwood Library improvements, $6 million; * Lake Elmo Park Reserve improvements, $2 million; * County State Aid Highway 19 expansion from Interstate 94 to Wynstone in Woodbury, $7.7 million; * County State Aid Highway 35 and Highway 36 interchange in Oakdale, $4.3 million; * County State Aid Highway 19 from Dale Road to County State Aid Highway 18 in Woodbury, $5 million; * Law Enforcement Center elevator refurbish, $2 million; * countywide building exteriors, $2 million; and * Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park – Lower Landing Facility, $2 million. Capital improvement needs are determined through the county’s Comprehensive Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, and park master plans, as well as assessments of the condition of the county’s roads and buildings. The county’s debt limit is established by state law, and cannot exceed 3 percent of the county’s property’s estimated market value. Even with the issuance of this debt, the county will be below its allowable debt capacity. After the public hearing, the County Board adopted a resolution providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $33.5 million. The bonds are comprised of capital improvement plan bonds, estimated at $31 million, and Land & Water Legacy bonds, estimated at $2.5 million. The winning bid will be presented to the County Board to award the sale of the bonds at its Aug. 6 meeting. Contact: Tabatha Hansen, Accounting & Finance Director, 651-430-6027 County Board purchases land to add to St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed to purchase 102 acres north of St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park to add to the park in Denmark Township from the Rowe Trust June 11. The $2.95 million cost will be funded by the county’s Land and Water Legacy Program proceeds. The county will request reimbursement from the Metropolitan Council for 75 percent of the acquisition cost. The purchase was initiated by the property owner, Rowe Trust, that advised the county of its interest in selling a portion of the property. An appraisal was completed and reviewed by the County Board and the county board determined that this property is appropriate for inclusion into St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. The landowner and county negotiated an acceptable purchase agreement. Contact: Sharon Price, Right-of-Way Specialist-Property Manager, 651-430-4391 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