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Date:	Jan. 8, 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 Jan. 8, 2019, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

Karwoski, Starry, Orput sworn into office
One Washington County commissioner and the county’s attorney and sheriff were sworn into office Jan. 8, following their elections at the November general election
Commissioner Stan Karwoski, District 2, was sworn into office for a four-year term. Karwoski was first elected in a special election in November 2016 to serve District 2, and was sworn in as the District 2 commissioner Dec. 6, 2016. His current term will end in December 2022.
Karwoski, a native of St. Paul, has lived in Oakdale since 1987. He is a retired 38-year employee of Graco, Inc., where he was a principal designer. He holds five design patents. Prior to his election to the County Board, Karwoski served as mayor of Oakdale, and on the Oakdale City Council.
Sheriff Dan Starry was sworn in for a four-year term. He has served as sheriff since May 2017 when he was appointed to the position by the County Board. He has served in the Washington County Sheriff’s Office since 1993 in a number of capacity’s, including as chief deputy under Sheriff Bill Hutton.
Attorney Pete Orput was sworn into a third four-year term. He was elected to that position in November 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018.

Photos attached: Commissioner Stan Karwoski sworn in by Attorney Pete Orput, with wife Linda and family.
Attorney Pete Orput sworn in by Judge John Hoffman, with wife Tami.

Sheriff Dan Starry sworn in by Judge Greg Galler, with wife Jeanice.

County Board elects chair, vice chair, sets meeting dates for 2019
Washington County Commissioner Stan Karwoski will serve at the County Board’s chair for 2019, after the board elected him to that office Jan. 8.
Commissioner Fran Miron, District 1, was elected vice chair for the year.
The board also thanked Commissioner Gary Kriesel, District 3, for his service as board chair during 2018.
The board set its meeting dates for 2019 as 9 a.m. on the first four Tuesdays of the month, excluding any Tuesday that is a legal holiday. The chair may call an evening meeting, when necessary, to conduct business.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026

County Board makes appointments to boards, commissions for 2019
The Washington County Board of Commissioners reappointed members of county advisory boards and commissioners whose terms were up at the end of 2018 Jan. 8.
Those who were reappointed, and the body on which they serve, are:
* Maynard Kelsey, Stillwater, Board of Adjustment and Appeals;
* Theresa Bottum, Stillwater, Child Protection Citizen Review Panel;
* Andrew Jackola, Birchwood Village, Community Corrections Advisory Board;
* Daniel Dingle, St. Paul Park, Community Development Agency;
* Mark Schroeder, Dellwood, Historic Courthouse Committee;
* Tammy McCulloch, Woodbury, Library Board;
* Kris Roberts, Woodbury, Mental Health Advisory Committee;
* Diane Knoll, Lake Elmo, Mental Health Advisory Committee;
* Matthew Darnold, Lake Elmo, Mental Health Advisory Committee;
* Shana Haraldson Morse, Woodbury, Mental Health Advisory Committee;
* Sheri Vrieze, Hudson, Wis., Mental Health Advisory Committee;
* Anne Vail, Birchwood Village, Mental Health Advisory Committee;
* Jyneen Thatcher, Hugo, Parks and Open Space Commission;
* Susan Lindo, Newport, Parks and Open Space Commission; and
* Tori Dupre, May Township, Parks and Open Space Commission.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026

County will continue to purchase services from Youth Services Bureau in 2019
Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed Jan. 8 to continue to purchase services from Youth Services Bureau (YSB) during 2019.
Juveniles who would otherwise be brought to juvenile court in Washington County may be recommended for the YSB’s diversion program. Diversion services may be accessed by referral from a variety of sources, including the County Attorney's Office, county departments, law enforcement agencies, and schools. While on diversion, a juvenile may participate in community work service, an educational program, and/or early intervention services through the YSB.
Juveniles are required to make restitution to the victim and complete the diversion conditions to avoid a formal court record.
The county will pay YSB $256,192 in 2019, unchanged from 2018, and based on the leveling off in the overall volume of services provided.
The 2018 outcomes from the contract with Youth Service Bureau include:
* 668 youth served;
* cost per youth of $376;
* 86 percent of juveniles in the program do not have further involvement in the Washington County justice system after 12 months;
* $1,836 was collected in restitution;
* juveniles completed 3,166 hours of community work service; and
* juveniles contributed 241 hours of community volunteer service.
Contact: Ren Clinton, Community Corrections Division Manager, 651-430-6973

Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide law enforcement to Grant, Scandia in 2019
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide law enforcement services to the cities of Grant and Scandia, after the County Board approved contracts with those cities Jan. 8.
Under the agreements, the Sheriff's Office will provide all necessary labor, supervision, administration, equipment, communication facilities and dispatching, and supplies necessary to provide the services. The cities will pay the county for the direct costs of providing the cities with the law enforcement services. The cities will each receive the services of one full-time deputy.
The agreements run from the beginning of 2019 through 2020. The agreements will automatically renew for periods of one year following the initial two-year term, up to a maximum of five years.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

SRF will provide design, project coordination for Highway 36/Manning Avenue improvements
SRF Consulting, Inc., will perform preliminary engineering design and project coordination services for the Highway 36 and Manning Avenue/County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 15 Interchange project after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $641,750 contract with the company Jan. 8.
Highway 36 is a critical east-west principal roadway that serves the northeast metro to the Wisconsin border. Manning Avenue provides access to northern Washington County. The existing intersection has significant congestion during morning and afternoon rush hours that will worsen with increased traffic volumes from growth and the opening of the St. Croix Crossing bridge. The intersection also has a significant crash and severity rate, and inadequate intersection spacing. An upgrade will provide the opportunity to improve access management for the development area while benefiting pedestrians and drainage.
Over the last year, an interchange study has been conducted to identify the needs at the current intersection and into the future. Alternatives were screened for traffic operations, access, and costs and impacts. SRF’s work will further refine those designs to determine a preferred alternative through the environmental documentation process. The preferred alternative will be developed into an approvable layout that will be based on the needs of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the county, the cities of Grant, Lake Elmo, and Stillwater, and Stillwater Township, as well as the needs of businesses, and the public's needs.
SRF will provide public and agency involvement, preliminary design, and environmental documentation for a grade-separated interchange to be constructed in 2021.
The contract is funded with state aid funds; local contributions will assist with design and construction costs.
The project has an estimated construction cost of $25 million, with $7 million from the Metropolitan Council Regional Solicitation having been previously secured. 
Contact: Nathan Arnold, Engineer II, 651-430-4384

County Board approves agreements to oversee Highway 36/Hadley interchange
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a number of agreements Jan. 8 that will oversee the improvements planned for the Highway 36 and Hadley Avenue interchange in Oakdale.
The agreements are between the county, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the City of Oakdale.
Washington County was awarded federal and state funds to lead the development and construction of a grade-separated interchange at the intersection. The project includes a grade-separated tunnel for the Gateway Trail at Hadley Avenue, which is being funded by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources through federal and state funds.
The agreement sets out the funding reimbursement and long-term maintenance for the project.
The City of Oakdale was expected to execute the agreement at its Jan. 8 City Council meeting.
The intersection carries 42,400 vehicles per day, a rate that is expected to grow to 52,300 vehicles per day in 2040. The crash rate and severity at the intersection is double of other intersections in the metropolitan area.
The $32.2 million project is scheduled to begin construction this year. The revenue expected to pay for the project is:
* $15.3 million from federal and state grants;
* $3.7 million from the City of Oakdale;
* $4.3 million from county bond funds;
* $5.04 million from county highway state aid;
* $2.51 million in land donated from the Mills Group;
* and $1.3 million from the Department of Natural Resources for work on the Gateway Trail.
Contact: Kevin Peterson, Engineer II, 651-430-4330

County Board adopts committees, commission, joint powers boards assignments
The Washington County Board of Commissioners adopted assignments for 2019 for the various committees, commissions, and joint powers boards on which commissioners serve.
As part of their duties as commissioners, the commissioners serve on groups that oversee governance and functions throughout the metropolitan area, and throughout the state. The 2019 assignments are:
Commissioner Fran Miron, District 1:
* Washington County:
o Groundwater Advisory Committee
o Community Development Agency 
o Planning Advisory Commission (Alternate)
o Plat Commission (Alternate)
o Personnel Committee
o Regional Railroad Authority
o University of Minnesota Extension Advisory Committee
* Association of Minnesota Counties
o Environment and Natural Resources
o Local Government Water Roundtable Advisory Committee
o Rural and Development Advisory Committee
o Extension Committee
* East Central Regional Juvenile Center (Alternate)
* Lower St. Croix Watershed Policy Committee, Chair
* Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, Chair
o Metropolitan Emergency Services Board Executive Committee
o State Emergency Communications Board
* Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
* Minnesota Inter-County Association (MICA) (Alternate)
* Ramsey / Washington Recycling & Energy Board, Chair
o Executive Committee
o Partnership on Waste and Energy Board
* Rush Line Corridor Task Force.
Commissioner Stan Karwoski, District 2:
* Washington County
o Community Development Agency (Alternate)
o Regional Railroad Authority, Chair
o Workforce Development Board
* Association of Minnesota Counties
o Board of Directors as District X Representative
o Transportation Policy Committee
* East Metro Strong Board
* GOLD Line Partners, Chair
* GOLD Line Management Committee
* Greater Metropolitan Workforce Council
* Metropolitan Emergency Services Board (Alternate)
* Metropolitan Transportation Advisory Board
* Minnesota Inter-County Association
* National Association of Counties
o Environment, Energy and Land Use Steering Committee
o Community, Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee
* Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Board
* Yellow Ribbon Network of Washington County
Commissioner Gary Kriesel, District 3:
* Washington County
o Audit Advisory Committee
o Historic Courthouse Advisory Committee
o Law Library Board
o Personnel Committee
o Planning Advisory Commission
o Plat Commission
o Regional Railroad Authority
o University of Minnesota Extension Committee
* Andersen Community Advisory Committee
* Big Marine Veterans Camp Rest Camp
* Lower St. Croix Watershed Policy Committee (Alternate)
* Metropolitan Library Services Agency (MELSA)
o Executive Committee
* Metropolitan Mosquito Control
o Executive Committee
* National Association of Counties (NACo)
o Veterans and Military Service
* Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Board
o Regional Haulers Licensing Board
Commissioner Wayne Johnson, District 4:
* Washington County
o Community Corrections Advisory Board
o Finance Committee
o Groundwater Advisory Committee (Alternate)
o Library Board
o Parks and Open Space Commission
o Regional Railroad Authority
o Workforce Development Board (Alternate)
* Association of Minnesota Counties
o Public Safety Policy Committee
* Metropolitan Emergency Services Board
* Metropolitan Transportation Advisory Board (Alternate)
* Minnesota Inter-County Association (MICA)
* Ramsey / Washington Recycling & Energy Board
* Red Rock Corridor Commission
Commissioner Lisa Weik, District 5:
* Washington County
o Finance Committee
o Library Park Association, Chair 
o Mental Health Advisory Council
o Regional Rail Authority
* Association of Minnesota Counties
o Futures Committee
o General Government Policy Committee
* GOLD Line Partners (Alternate)
* Gold Line Corridor Management Committee
* Greater MSP
* Metropolitan Alliance for Healthy Families
* Metropolitan Mosquito Control (Alternate)
* National Association of Counties (NACo)
o Transportation Policy Steering Committee
o Women of NACo Leadership Network
o International Economic Development Task Force
o Rural Action Caucus Steering Committee
* Ramsey / Washington Recycling & Energy Board (Alternate)
o Regional Hauler Licensing Board (Alternate)


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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
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