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Date:	July 14, 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 July 14, 2020, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board approves emergency repairs to CSAH 12
The Washington County Board approved emergency repairs for County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 12 at Kimbro Avenue in Grant July 14.
The board agreed to allow the director of the Public Works Department to enter into contracts for the emergency repairs to the roadway, and approved the use of the county’s fund balance not to exceed $700,000 to do the work.
In recent years, Minnesota has received an unusual amount of precipitation and a number of landlocked basins in the county are over capacity, creating localized flooding. An unnamed basin, located north and south of CSAH 12, or 75th Street North, just east of Kimbro Avenue continued to rise in 2019 and 2020. Prior to winter freeze-up in 2019, the basin’s elevation required closing the trail south of the county highway.
After the spring 2020 snow melt and the rain this summer, the basin water has overtopped CSAH 12. The roadway was closed to traffic June 29. It is expected that the pond will rise to approximately three feet above CSAH 12 before the pond drains to the south. Kimbro Avenue was also closed to traffic earlier this year, due to water on the roadway. 
The county will raise CSAH 12 by approximately four feet to keep the roadway from flooding.
Contact: Wayne Sandberg, Deputy Public Works Director/Engineer, 651-430-4339

County Board recognizes Stillwater Gazette 150th anniversary
The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized the 150th anniversary of the Stillwater Gazette July 14.
The Gazette marks its 150th anniversary Aug. 6, 2020, and will publish a special edition Aug. 7 to mark the milestone.
The Gazette has played and continues to play a significant role in the community life in the St. Croix Valley. The Gazette continues to cover the actions of the County Board of Commissioners and helps the county get needed information to residents. Many community newspapers no longer exist, and the celebration of a 150th anniversary is a tremendous milestone.  
The board congratulated the Gazette on its 150th anniversary and commended the role of community newspapers in telling local stories.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026



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www.co.washington.mn.us
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