Our Mission: Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and the cooperation of dedicated people Date: April 7, 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 April 7, 2020, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting via virtual systems, with staff in person at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota County Board approves application for Outing Lodge liquor licenses renewal The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an application for the renewal of an on-sale and Sunday liquor licenses for Outing Lodge in Stillwater Township April 7. Washington County processes all liquor licenses for the townships in the county. The county reviews the insurance certification provided by the applicant, and the Sheriff's Office, County Attorney's Office, and Public Health & Environment Department complete compliance/verification checks. The requirements are complete, and the license fees paid. The fees pay for the administrative cost of the county. Contact: Steve Gransee, Taxpayer Services & Election Division Manager, 651-430-8272 County applies for grant to improve transportation services for older adults Washington County will apply for a Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) grant of up to $240,000 to increase the efficiency and coordination of transportation services for adults ages 65 and older. The County Board approved the application April 7. DHS requested applications for Live Well at Home Grants that provide innovative services for Minnesotans, ages 65 and older that allow them to live and age in the community of their choice. DHS has prioritized projects that create and provide innovative transportation options, such as circulators, and that increase the efficiency and coordination of current and future transportation services that fill current service gaps. The grant would be used to: * expand Transit Link, the county’s general purpose dial-a-ride services, and increase capacity of services that provide a basic level of mobility coverage for transit-dependent populations and create a robust community safety net; and * expand community circulators, to connect passengers to important destinations within and between communities. The grants are for programs that would be implemented for one to two years, with the option to go beyond that. If it receives the grant, the county would see a 24-month grant, in which the county would provide and create innovative transportation options and increase the efficiency and coordination of transportation services that fill service gaps in Washington County. The county would match the grant dollar-for-dollar, using both local money and in-kind services. Recognizing the impact of COVID-19, DHS will allow the county to reduce the project scope and cost if local communities are not able to provide the full cash match. The deadline for proposals is April 17. Contact: Sheila Holbrook-White, Community Services Policy Analyst, 651-430-6609 County will receive $260,000 to fight COVID-19 Washington County will receive almost $260,000 from the Minnesota Department of Health to aid in fighting the COVID-19 disease. The County Board accepted the funds April 7. The money is connected to the county’s Local Public Health Grant, and may only be used for COVID-19 prevention, management, and response. Additional state and federal funding will likely be available to the county in coming weeks. Contact: David Brummel, Public Health & Environment Deputy Director, 651-430-6662 County Board rejects bids for CSAH 5 project The Washington County Board of Commissioners rejected bids April 7 for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 5 project in Stillwater, which is for road improvements from Pine Tree Trail to Sycamore Street. The project on CSAH 5, which is also Olive Street and Owens Street in Stillwater, involves resurfacing the streets, adding turn lanes, reconstructing and adding sidewalks, and curb and gutter reconstruction. The bids for the project came in 19% over the amount that the county has budgeted for the project, $2.675 million. The next step will be to advertise the bid later this fall or winter, for construction in 2021. Contact: Andrew Giesen, Engineer II, 651-430-4336 County Board approves purchasing property to add to Pine Point Park A parcel of land in Stillwater Township will be added to Pine Point Regional Park after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase April 7. The vacant property is almost 49 acres on 120th Street North. The property owner approached the county stating their interest in selling the property. An appraisal was completed and reviewed by the County Board. An offer was made to the property owners, and the property owners and county negotiated a purchase agreement. The county will pay $776,500 for the land. The Metropolitan Council will pay 75% of the purchase price, and the remaining 25% will be paid for by Washington County’s Land and Water Legacy Program, a voter-approved fund that is used for land conservation. Contact: Sharon Price, Right of Way Specialist-Property Manager, 651-430-4391 Old Highway 244 now designated CSAH 12 The official name of Old Trunk Highway 244 in White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi will now be County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 12. The Washington County Board of Commissioners made the designation April 7. The Washington County 2040 Comprehensive plan identifies the portion of Highway 244 from Highway 120 (Century Avenue) to CSAH 12 (CSAH 12/Stillwater Boulevard) as a candidate for a future County State Aid Route. In May 2019, Washington County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation formalized a jurisdictional transfer of this portion of highway. This portion of roadway completes a logical continuation of CSAH 12 from the City of Stillwater to the Washington County border with Ramsey County. The cities of White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi formally supported the designation of Old TH 244 as CSAH 12. Contact: Kevin Peterson, Engineer II, 651-430-4330 County Board designates April 20-24 as Work Zone Awareness Week in county April 20-24 has been designated as Work Zone Awareness Week in Washington County by the County Board. The board made the designation April 7. National Work Zone Awareness Week is an event that takes place across the United States, with partnerships between state departments of transportation, national road safety organizations, government agencies, private companies, and individuals. Washington County recognizes the importance of Work Zone Safety and regularly works with stakeholders across the county to educate and strive for the safest work zones possible. Declaring April 20-24, 2020, as Work Zone Awareness Week in Washington County will allow the county to increase communications and improve the visibility of the county’s efforts to have “Safe Work Zones for All: Protect workers. Protect road users.” Wednesday, April 22, is Go Orange Day when all roadway safety professionals across the country are encouraged to wear orange to show their support of work zone safety. Gov. Tim Walz highlighted a new flagger law recently near a highway construction zone in St. Paul. "Work zones are incredibly dangerous. The flaggers who are the first ones in those work zones in many places are at risk," he said. "This piece of legislation, just to let people know: You come into a work zone, and you disobey what the flaggers are doing, you put people at risk. Those flaggers are now empowered to take down the license plate number, and you will be getting a talk-to by law enforcement,” to include a potential fine of $300. New for 2020, Washington County Public Works will use Portable Rumble Strips. The devices will be deployed prior to the flagger position to alert drivers of an upcoming traffic control change and work zone. The strips are especially effective when a distracted driver enters a work zone. The driver will feel and hear the strips. Contact: Wayne Sandberg, County Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director, 651-430-4339 County Board designates April 12-18 National Public Safety Telecommunications Week The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized the 9-1-1 Public Safety Dispatchers in Washington County in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 12-18, 2020. The designation was made April 7. In 1994, a presidential proclamation was made to designate the second full week in April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. The National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week honors all of those who help those in need through the use of telecommunications. The commissioners thanked and honored the men and women who serve everyday as public safety dispatchers in Washington County. The board noted that the safety of county residents, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from residents who call the Washington County Communications Center; and telecommunicators and dispatchers are a critical first contact residents have with emergency services and are most often considered the community's “first” first responders. Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601 Bolton & Menk Inc. will do contract administration, staking for Woodbury project Bolton & Menk Inc. will do construction contract administration and staking of the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 19 and Local Roads Project in Woodbury after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.7 million contract with the company April 7. The CSAH 19 (Woodbury Drive) and Local Road Capacity and Safety Improvement Project will reconstruct Woodbury Drive from a four-lane to six-lane roadway and improve existing intersections to include dual left- and right-turn lanes where needed by current and future traffic. The project will also construct a multi-modal trail along the western side of Woodbury Drive to complement the existing regional trail on the east side and make drainage improvements. The project, being done in partnership with the City of Woodbury, will reconstruct and rehabilitate several local roadways in the area and add additional trail connections to improve the walkability in this commercial area. The project will be challenging, as it will be done in an area with high traffic volumes, and in areas with significant commercial and retail properties. Due to the projected construction workload for 2020 and extensive city work on this project, it was determined that the administration, inspection, and surveying required for this project would be best managed through a consultant contract. The county’s construction engineer and project manager will provide guidance and oversight throughout the project. Contact: Gerritt Bangma, Construction Engineer, 651-430-4317 County Board proclaims April National Association of Counties Month The Washington County Board of Commissioners proclaimed April as National County Government Month in appreciation of county government employees who provide services for residents of Washington County. This year's theme is "Counties Matter." The nearly 1,300 employees of Washington County provide core and mandated services of county government to more than 260,000 county residents each day. County services range from public health and environmental services to law enforcement and prosecution, from probation to community services that support those with mental illness, disabilities, or the elderly, from elections to roads and parks, and from libraries to all the internal services needed to deliver all county services. By adopting the proposed resolution, the County Board recognizes, congratulates, and thanks all Washington County employees who fulfill the county's mission by providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation, and the cooperation of dedicated people. Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026 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