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Date:	Oct. 15, 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 Oct. 15, 2019, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

Stillwater Gazette will serve as county’s legal newspaper
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to a contract with the Stillwater Gazette Oct. 15, making the Gazette the publisher of official county notices.
The County Board awarded the publication of county official notices to the Lillie Suburban Newspapers for three years at the beginning of January 2017. In addition, the board identified the Stillwater Gazette as the publisher for the second publication of the financial statement insert. At the beginning of October, Lillie Suburban Newspapers notified the county that it would no longer be publishing legal notices after Oct. 2.  
The County Board amended the contract with the Gazette so that it will be the publisher of the official notices of the county for the remainder of the year.  
The county will issue a request for bid for the publication of official notices for 2020.
Contact: Deb McDonald, Coordinator for the County Administrator, 651-430-6013

County Board agrees to send MFIP plan through 2021 to state
The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed Oct. 15 to submit the county’s Minnesota Family Investment Program Service Plan to the state Department of Human Services.
State law requires counties and nations/tribes to have a Biennial Service Agreement approved by the state Department of Human Services to receive funds for the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). The plan was posted on the county’s website for 30 days for comment.
The Service Plan provides the department with information about services and strategies within Washington County to meet state established outcomes with the goal of increasing the economic stability of low-income families provided services with consolidated funds. The Service Plan will give the state a comprehensive assessment of current efforts, insight into what assistance is needed, and information on new strategies to better serve program participants.
Contact: Tina Dudzinksi, Economic Support Supervisor, 651-275-8702

County receives award for downtown Afton project
The American Public Works Association presented Washington County with its 2019 project of the year award in historic preservation for small cities and rural communities for its downtown Afton project.
The award was presented to the board Oct. 15, and is for the reconstruction of County State Aid Highway 21 in Afton, and surrounding infrastructure.
The City of Afton and Washington County partnered to reconstruct infrastructure within the 160-year-old Old Village of Afton. Together, with financial support from the state’s Board of Water and Soil Resources, Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, Public Facilities Authority, and the Valley Branch Watershed District, WSB, the engineering consultant, led an eight-year process that assembled the project vision, procured stakeholder funding, and designed the project. The company also did construction administration and coordination with tribal communities to protect the Rattlesnake Effigy Mound.
The project revitalized the Old Village of Afton, while protecting its historic properties. The $20 million effort included a new sanitary sewer collection and treatment system; reconstruction of county and local roads; new trails; levee reconstruction; stormwater enhancements; and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements; and provided 100-year flood protection for the Old Village of Afton.
The City of Afton was notified by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 2008 that the levee protecting the Old Village did not meet standards to remain in the voluntary assistance program. In 2009, the city hired WSB to develop a multidisciplinary approach to preserve the downtown and reconstruct the levee to corps standards. To support reconstruction, WSB recommended the appointment of an Old Village public task force to lead the development and project planning for the City Council to consider. WSB, Washington County, and the City of Afton teamed up to deliver the project under one contract. 
To get the project done in one year, the contractor had three pipe crews, two grading crews, and multiple subconsultants working on the project simultaneously. This presented a challenge in construction administration and inspection to ensure construction activities adhered to plans and specifications. Maintaining traffic control and coordination with businesses and residents proved to be especially challenging.
Contact: Don Theisen, Public Works Director, 651-430-4304

The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted the American Public Works Association 2019 project of the year award in historic preservation for small cities and rural communities for its downtown Afton project Oct. 15. At the presentation is Wayne Sandberg, deputy public works director and county engineer, Cory Slagle, assistant county engineer, Commissioner Lisa Weik, Commissioner Fran Miron, Afton Mayor Bill Palmquist, Commissioner Wayne Johnson, Commissioner Gary Kriesel, Commissioner Stan Karwoski, Afton City Administrator Ronald Moorse, and Don Theisen, county public works director. 

County Board accepts donations for third quarter
The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted third quarter 2019 donations to the county from the public Oct. 15.
The Sheriff’s Office received a $200 contribution for the Explorer’s Program, the Historic Courthouse received donations for tours, and the Library received $415 from its general donation boxes and from the Environmental Center donation box.
In-kind donations included bicycles for the Historic Courthouse bike exhibit from Keller Williams – Oak Park Heights, and cases of root beer from Lift Bridge Brewery for the courthouse’s ice cream social.
Third quarter donations are valued at $1,545.10.
Contact: Stephanie Kammerud, Administrative Assistant, 651-430-6014

County Board reviews budgets for conservation district, water management organizations
As part of the 2020 county budget review, the Washington County Board of Commissioners reviewed the budgets of the Washington Conservation District and watershed agencies Oct. 15.
The Washington Conservation District is a local unit of government dedicated to soil and water conservation, which works to enhance, protect, and preserve the natural resources of Washington County through conservation projects, technical guidance, and educational services. It is governed by state law and Soil and Water Conservation Policy. The district provides local expertise on water quality, erosion control, and natural resource information through partnerships with individuals, local government units, and other organizations.
More than half of the district’s funding is through agreements with local watershed organizations; 20 percent is directly from Washington County. It will have a budget of about $2.2 million budget for 2020.
In addition to the programs and services that the district provides to the watershed agencies throughout the county, the district provides technical assistance and support for meeting regulatory requirements for county work. It also works to prevent the spread of invasive species. The district provides technical assistance for rural groundwater protection, and supports the county’s Land and Water Legacy Program. The district also provides assistance to residents.
The board also reviewed budgets for watershed district and joint powers watershed organizations in the county. The agencies’ purpose is to:
* control or alleviate floodwaters;
* improve stream channels;
* control or alleviate soil erosion;
* regulate improvements by riparian property owners;
* protect and enhance water quality; and
* provide for the protection of groundwater.
The agencies are mandated to create watershed plans, and then implement plans over a 10-year cycle. The budget for each is driven by the plans of the agency.
Watershed district managers are appointed by the County Board to three-year terms; joint powers watershed organizations managers are appointed by participating local governments. The county has seven watershed districts, and their proposed budgets for 2020 and their change from 2019 are:
* Brown’s Creek, $2.1 million, an 8.5 percent increase;
* Carnelian Marine St. Croix, $1.3 million, a 52 percent increase;
* Comfort Lake-Forest Lake, $2.8 million, a 9.6 percent increase;
* Ramsey-Washington Metro, $13.2 million, a 2.4 percent decrease;
* Rice Creek, $8.1 million, an 11.5 percent increase;
* South Washington, $3.9 million, a 3.6 percent increase; and
* Valley Branch, $3 million, a 17.9 percent decrease.
The county has one joint powers watershed management organization, the Middle St. Croix, which will have a budget of $202,348 next year, a 31 percent decrease.
Each agency highlighted a major project it is working on to the County Board during the budget review.
Contact: Maureen Hoffman, Planner II, 651-430-6684





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