Our Mission: Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and the cooperation of dedicated people Date: March 2, 2021 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 2, 2021, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota County Board makes appointments to county boards, commissions The Washington County Board of Commissioners made several appointments to county citizen boards and commissions March 2. Appointments are: * Temmy Olasimbo, Woodbury, appointed to the Community Development Agency Board of Commissioners as a District 5 representative, to a partial first term expiring Dec. 31, 2022; * Don Pereira, Afton, appointed to a partial first term expiring Nov. 14, 2023, as a manager on the Valley Branch Watershed District; * John Brach, West Lakeland, appointed to a partial first term expiring Nov. 14, 2022, as a manager on the Valley Branch Watershed District; * Wendy Ward, Marine on St. Croix, appointed to the Groundwater Advisory Committee as a Municipal Government representative, to a partial first term expiring Dec. 31, 2023; * Shelley Quam, Oakdale, appointed to the Mental Health Advisory Committee as a District 2 representative, to a partial term expiring Dec. 31, 2023; and * James Lovold, Oakdale, appointed to the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee as a District 2 representative, to a partial term expiring Dec. 31, 2023. Contact: Alyssa Soderlund, Administrative Assistant, 651-430-6015 County will contract with agency for emergency housing assistance The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $240,000 contract with Stepping Stone Emergency Housing to provide services through Jan. 31, 2022. The county first contracted with the agency last August to manage the COVID-19 hotel shelter operations in the county. Additional grant funds have since been awarded to the county through a Department of Human Services Emergency Solutions Grant to allow the contract to be continued through January 2022. Stepping Stone will provide case management staff and supervision for the shelter residents placed into the Washington County hotel shelter program. Contact: Tom Adkins, Community Services Director, 651-430-6902 County Board approves conveyance, sale of tax-forfeited land The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved conveyance of tax-forfeited land in the county March 2. The county received requests from both the City of Cottage Grove and the City of Scandia to convey tax-forfeited land to those cities for a public use, which is allowed by state law. The City of Cottage Grove is requesting a parcel of land that may be used for public service facilities. The City of Scandia is requesting a parcel of land for a park. The County Board also approved setting a public auction for April 9 for tax-forfeited properties that includes: * a house in the City of Lake St. Croix Beach; * a vacant lot in the City of Oakdale; * a vacant lot in the City of St. Paul Park; and * a house in the City of St. Paul Park. The public auction will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 9, at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater, 14949 N. 62nd St. A notice of sale will be published in the county’s legal newspaper, and a notice of sale will be mailed to adjacent property owners. Sale information will be available on the county website and will be sent to those who have subscribed to receive notice of sales. Contact: Steve Gransee, Taxpayer Services & Election Division Manager, 651-430-8272 County Board approves application for liquor licenses The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved applications for liquor licenses for Afton Alps and for the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp March 2. Washington County processes all liquor licenses for townships within the county. The county reviews the necessary information for the licenses, and the Sheriff's Office, Attorney's Office, and the Department of Public Health and Environment complete compliance/verification checks. One application is for renewal of an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for VR US Holdings Inc. Afton Alps Resort, 6600 Peller Ave. S., Denmark Township, and the other is an application for the renewal of liquor licenses for an on-sale license, a Sunday liquor license, and a consumption and display permit for the Disabled Veteran's Rest Camp Association in May Township. All requirements for the applications have been completed, and the appropriate fees were paid by the applicant. The license fees pay for the cost of the county for administration, compliance, and verification checks. Contact: Steve Gransee, Taxpayer Services & Election Divisions Manager, 651-430-8272 County Board accepts grant for Sheriff’s Office from state The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted the 2020 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Agreement between the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the Washington County Sheriff's Office March 2. The grant is for $183,750 and runs through June 30, 2022. The UASI grant program assists high-threat, high-density urban areas in efforts to build and sustain capabilities necessary to respond to and recover from acts of terrorism. The grant will fund planning, equipment, training, and exercises. The grant award does not require any local match. Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601 County Board approves changes to block grant after CARES funding The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to the county’s Community Development Block Grant March 2, to account for the additional funds the Community Development Agency received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act, funding. The CARES Act provided additional funding for the Community Development Block Grant program which were designated as “CDBG-CV” funds. Last May, Washington County processed the first round of CDBG-CV funding of $437,331. In September, the county was informed of an additional allocation of CDBG-CV funding of $692,440, for a total of $1,119,771. The CDBG-CV funds will be added to Washington County’s 2019 Annual Action Plan so that funds can be used as soon as the plan is approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The additional funds and their disbursement are considered a Substantial Amendment to the annual action plan, and thus requires approval by the County Board. The money will be used to assist residents to pay for damage deposits, first month rent, eligible delinquent rent payments, and application fees to prevent homelessness as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Aid will also provide for hotel overnight stays in lieu of being in a congregated shelter. The funds will also be used for homeowner assistance, to pay for no more than six months of delinquent payments for mortgages, homeowner’s insurance, or homeowner association dues. Upon County Board approval, the plans will be submitted to HUD. Contact: Karly Schoeman, Washington County Community Development Agency Deputy Executive Director, 651-458-6556 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