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Date:	March 17, 2020
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 March 17, 2020, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board reviews Afton’s draft comprehensive plan
The Washington County Board of Commissioners reviewed the draft comprehensive plan for the City of Afton March 17.
All local government units within the seven-county metropolitan region must prepare a comprehensive plan and update that plan every 10 years. The Metropolitan Council is charged with reviewing local comprehensive plans. Before formally submitting local comprehensive plan updates to the council, local government units must provide adjacent and affected jurisdictions the opportunity to review and comment on the draft plan. A mandatory six-month review period accommodates this requirement. 
Staff from the county reviewed the plan, and prepared a comment letter. Comments addressed the possibility of adding information regarding financial assistance for subsurface sewage treatment system, and commended the city on the emphasis that it placed on the county’s Groundwater Plan. The county was also encouraged by the city’s goal of supporting the safety of bicyclists, equestrians, and walkers, as well as the city’s commitment to the preservation of open natural spaces and its commitment to providing solar access.
Contact: Emily Jorgensen, Planner II, 651-430-4338

County Board approves agreement for job training, employment services
The Washington Board of Commissioners approved an agreement between the county and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) March 17, which is a contract that recognizes Washington County as the provider of training and employment services for the county.
The agreement is for five years, from April 1, 2020, through March 31, 2025. 
In accordance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and as a provision of this funding, the county has developed a Local Plan, which covers operation during the current two program years July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2020. The plan outlines the services provided by the Workforce Development Division for adult, youth, seniors, and dislocated workers. The county tracks the work that it does for the workers.
Contact: Rick Roy, Manager of Workforce and Veteran Services, 651-275-8660

County Board approves application for Greeder Hinds Comfort Post 323 off-site gambling
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an application from Greeder Hinds Comfort Post 323 Auxiliary March 17 to conduct off-site gambling at the Washington County Fairgrounds July 29 through Aug. 2.
The fairgrounds are in Baytown Township.
An application to conduct bingo can be made by organizations that meet state laws if it is conducted by an organization in connection with a county fair, the state fair, or a civic celebration, and is not conducted for more than 12 consecutive days. After approval by the County Board, the application is sent to the State Gambling Board for consideration.
Contact: Patricia Gillen, Taxpayer Services Technician, 651-430-6183

Changes made to construction contract for Wildwood Library
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved changes to a contract with Kraus-Anderson Construction March 17 to complete the rebuilding of the Wildwood Library in Mahtomedi.
The library was demolished last summer, and is on track to reopen this summer.
The change to the original contract that the County Board saw March 17 includes the addition of General Conditions for project completion and Building Permit costs paid to the City of Mahtomedi.  General Conditions include those items that are needed to complete construction that are not a part of the final building product, such as construction dumpsters, temporary restroom facilities, perimeter construction fencing, temporary heat and building enclosures, and job site trailers and equipment.
Items included in the amendment to the original contract total $278,191.
The project is being paid for with proceeds of the bonds that the county issued in 2019.
Contact: Mandy Leonard, Building Services Project Manager, 651-430-6236

Fund balance money will be used to complete gun range renovation
The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed March 17 to use the county’s fund balance to complete renovation of the Sheriff’s Office Gun Range.
The additional cost to the project is $70,000. The Sheriff’s Office Gun Range is adjacent to the county’s North Shop, which is in Stillwater Township.
The project includes removal and replacement of existing timber walls used as a backstop for target shooting. As this project progressed, lead was found in the wall, and properly removing and disposing of it increased the cost for the project.
Contact: Connor Lewis, Building Services Project Manager, 651-430-6249

Kimley-Horn will do preliminary, final design for Stonebridge Trail
Kimley-Horn will do the preliminary and final design work for a road project for County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 5, after the Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed to a $555,128 contract with the company March 17.
The project will be the third and final phase resulting from the 2014 corridor study that extended from Croixwood Boulevard to Highway 96 (Dellwood Road). This phase of the project includes the section of CSAH 5, from Sycamore Street to Highway 96. It is .8 miles, and carries 5,800 vehicles a day. The project work will:
* resurface the highway and trail;
* provide a new trail connection to Brown’s Creek Trail;
* improve the bridge and pedestrian accommodations over Brown’s Creek Trail; and
* evaluate intersection improvements.
The contract with Kimley-Horn will include project coordination, preliminary design and final design services, public engagement, environmental investigations, and utility coordination necessary for the project. The project is scheduled for construction in 2022. The contract will be funded with State Aid funds and local contributions.
Contract: Andrew Giesen, Engineer II, 651-430-4336

County Board continues public hearing on updating county’s transportation sales tax
The Washington County Board of Commissioners continued a public hearing March 17 to consider updating the county’s transportation sales tax from 0.25% to 0.5% to fund transportation and transit projects and transit-related operating costs.
No one spoke at the hearing. The hearing was continued from Feb. 11, and closed March 17. In light of the current emergency matters surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the County Board voted to terminate the public hearing process and take no further action on this matter at this time.
Contact: Wayne Sandberg, Deputy Public Works Director/County Engineer, 651-430-4339



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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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