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

St. Croix Prep receives temporary liquor license for April event
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a temporary liquor license Feb. 26 for a special event that will be hosted by St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Baytown Township.
The school will have a special event April 6, with Twist Bartenders of St. Louis Park managing the liquor service. The liquor liability insurance is held by the company.
The Sheriff’s Office has been notified of the event, and the school has paid the required license fee.
Contact: Steve Gransee, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Division Manager, 651-430-8272

County will receive grants to restore prairie, oak savanna in Lake Elmo Park Reserve
Washington County will receive two $50,000 grants from the Expedited Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program, part of the Outdoor Heritage Fund, and part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Funding will be used to help restore wildlife and pollinator habitat within Lake Elmo Park Reserve by restoring prairie and oak savanna.  
The County Board received news of the grants Feb. 26.
No financial match from the county is required; the county will provide staff time to plan and implement the restoration projects.
The first project will include planting 32 acres of prairie for the rusty patched bumblebee in the northwest portion of the park in an existing crop field. The grant will be used to purchase native seed for the project. The second project will restore 17 acres of oak savanna on the north shore of Eagle Point Lake. The second grant will be used to pay for contracted services for common buckthorn removal and follow-up management to provide long-term control. 
Contact: Dan MacSwain, Natural Resources Coordinator, 651-430-4323

Sheriff’s Office receives gift for K9 protective vests
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a gift of $6,000 from Linda Givens of FourCrown, Inc., to be used to purchase three K9 protective vests.
The County Board accepted the donation Feb. 26.
The Givens family are community members and business owners in Washington County. The K9 unit is always in need of training sites, and the Givens allow the Sheriff's Office to use one of their businesses for K9 unit trainings. During a recent training, the family talked with the members of the unit and noticed two dogs wearing protective vests. However, due to the cost, not all dogs can wear one. The donation will be used to purchase vests for K9 Jake, K9 Vader, and K9 Beck.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601


The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted a donation from Linda and Michael Givens of FourCrown, Inc., to be used to purchase three K9 protective vests for Sheriff’s Office K9s Feb. 26. Commissioner Stan Karwoski, District 2, Sheriff Dan Starry, commissioners Lisa Weik, District 5, Wayne Johnson, District 4, and Fran Miron, District 1, along with Michael Givens, Commissioner Gary Kriesel, District 3, and Sgt. Ty Jacobson, K9 trainer for the county, gathered around K9 Vader and his handler Deputy Allen Degel. K9 Vader will be a recipient of one of the protective vests.


County Board states support for funding regional trails
The Washington County Board of Commissioners stated its support for funding for regional trails Feb. 26.
In recent surveys, Washington County residents have rated the county's park system and trails as one of the most valued services provided by the county. The county is committed to the continued development of a multi-modal transportation system that includes roads, transit, and trails that allow residents access to destinations throughout the county in a variety of ways.  
The County Board has historically supported state and regional funding to develop regional trails. A regional trail is defined as a destination or greenway trail or linking trail that provides connections between regional parks. An example of a county regional trail is the planned trail that follows Highway 96 that will connect the Brown's Creek and Gateway trails to local trails around White Bear Lake, the Lake Links Trail. The Lake Links Trail Association is also working on the development of a local trail around White Bear Lake that will connect to the county's regional trail. 
The resolution that the board approved states its support for state and regional funds for the development of regional trails, as well as the board's support for the local efforts to develop a local trail around White Bear Lake that will connect to the county's regional trail system.
Contact: Don Theisen, Public Works Director, 651-430-4304

County receives award from right of way association
The International Right of Way Association (IRWA) Minnesota Chapter 20 presented the 2018 state Employer of the Year Award to Washington County last week. The award was presented to the County Board Feb. 26.
Two county employees, Mindy Leadholm and Sharon Price who are active in the group, presented the award. Leadholm is the president of Chapter 20, and will help organize the 2020 conference, which will be in Minnesota. Price is a past Chapter 20 board member.
The award is based on an organization’s dedication and contribution to the IRWA. Washington County supports continuing education, attendance at chapter events, regional events, and international events. Washington County also supports holding IRWA meetings and education courses in its facilities.
The county is also now nominated for the world-wide award.
Contact: Don Theisen, Public Works Director, 651-430-4304

The International Right of Way Association (IRWA) Minnesota Chapter 20 presented the 2018 state Employer of the Year Award to Washington County, and it was presented to the County Board Feb. 26. Commissioners Lisa Weik, District 5, Wayne Johnson, District 4, Stan Karwoski, District 2, Gary Kriesel, District 3, and Fran Miron, District 1, received the award which was presented by Mindy Leadholm, Sharon Price, and Don Theisen from the county’s Department of Public Works.




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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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