Our Mission: Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and the cooperation of dedicated people Date: April 27, 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 April 27, 2021, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota County Board names residents to citizen advisory groups The Washington County Board of Commissioners made appointments to county citizen advisory groups April 27. The appointments are: * Gary Severson, Oakdale, as the District 2 representative on the Parks and Open Space Commission, for a partial first term expiring Dec. 31, 2022; and * Thomas Dunlap, May Township, as a business representative on the Workforce Development Board, for a partial first term expiring Dec. 31, 2023. Contact: Alyssa Soderlund, Administrative Assistant, 651-430-6015 County Board approves housing program for 2021 The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a program April 27 for 2021 to assist affordable housing programs in the county. The Washington County Community Development Agency manages programs under the federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Programs. All funds assist low- and moderate-income households. The programs approved will be undertaken between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. They include: * $300,000 for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to build four units of affordable housing; * $76,288 for Two Rivers Community Land Trust to rehabilitate three units of affordable housing; * $380,099 for home improvement loans to rehabilitate 10 units of affordable housing; and * $105,320 for Washington County Community Services for homeless prevention, to assist 540 people. The program opened for resident comment from March 19, and comment was accepted through April 20; no comments were received. Contact: Karly Schoeman, Washington County Community Development Agency Deputy Executive Director, 651-458-6556 County Board approves applications for events at 2021 Washington County Fair The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved two applications April 27 for events set for the 2021 Washington County Fair, which is in Baytown Township. The applications were: * from the VFW Post 323 Auxiliary to conduct off-site gambling at the Washington County Fair, Aug. 4 – 8; and * from Afton Bayport Lakeland Lions Club to conduct bingo at the Washington County Fair, Aug. 4 – 8. An application to conduct off-site gambling can be made by organizations that meet the state law requirements. After approval by the County Board, the applications are sent to the State Gambling Board for consideration. Contact: Christine Piskura, Taxpayer Services and Elections Division Manager, 651-430-8272 Sir Lines-A-Lot will do roadway striping in county this summer Sir-Lines-A-Lot perform the latex pavement marking striping on county highways and local streets within Washington County in 2021 after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $130,500 contract with the company April 27. Lane striping is required on roadways meeting certain width and volume thresholds, which many Washington County highways meet. This contract is specifically to refresh markings that have reached the end of their service life, and does not cover striping that is to be done in connection with planned construction projects. Funding is provided by levy dollars. Contact: Mitch Bartelt, Engineer II, 651-430-4349 Washington County will receive compensation for detour The State of Minnesota will pay Washington County for the use of its roadways as a detour of traffic while the state is reconstructing Highway 95 on the border of Afton and Woodbury this summer. The county will receive $10,140 to provide road life compensation for detours that will follow Keats Avenue South, Bailey Road, and Valley Creek Road, all county roads, during work on Highway 95. The County Board approved the compensation April 27. The project, to be done this summer, will be along Highway 95, or Manning Avenue South, between Bailey Road and Hudson Road. The improvements include resurfacing the roadway, improving drainage, and updating accessibility features to meet current standards. Contact: Joe Gustafson, Traffic Engineer, 651-430-4351 County Board recognizes National Work Zone Awareness Week The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized April 26-30 at Work Zone Safety Awareness Week April 27. The event 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 26-30 as Work Zone Awareness Week in Washington County allows for increased communications and visibility of efforts to have “Safe Work Zones for All: Protect workers. Protect road users.” Contact: Wayne Sandberg, County Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director, 651-430-4339 County Board approves contracts for construction site services The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved contracts April 27 for construction site services. The summer’s road construction work will include 12 projects valued at more than $35 million, including the Highway 36/Manning Avenue interchange, reconstructing Woodbury Drive from Dale Road to Bailey Road, and the Highway 36 frontage road realignment at Osgood Avenue in Oak Park Heights. The contracts are: * with WSB & Associates Inc. for $355,000 for construction surveying and staking services; * with WSB & Associates Inc. for $356,300 for construction inspection services, which will provide additional personnel and resources to administer, inspect, and survey several of the construction projects; and * with Alliant Engineering Inc. for $124,110 for environmental inspection services for the construction projects. Contact: Gerritt Bangma, Construction Engineer, 651-430-4317 County Board approves proclamations for law enforcement officers The Washington County Board of Commissioners proclaimed dates in May honoring law enforcements officers April 27. The commissioners adopted a resolution proclaiming May 2-8 as Correctional Officers Week, May 9-15 as National Law Enforcement Week, and May 15 as Law Enforcement Memorial Day. Washington County extends its appreciation and thanks to the dedicated law enforcement community for the vital contribution it makes to the public safety and well-being of residents. The resolution honoring the law enforcement officers state that they work devotedly and selflessly on behalf of the people of the nation, regardless of the peril or hazard to themselves; and that they safeguard the lives and property of all Americans. Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601 County Board expresses support for National Arbor Day, National Arbor Month The Washington County Board of Commissioners extended its support for National Arbor Day April 30 and National Arbor Month in May. Recognizing the day and month helps to bring awareness to the value and benefits that trees provide to communities. The resolution the board approved April 27 noted that the emerald ash borer is becoming more established in Minnesota, and will ultimately eliminate many green and white ash trees, which are abundant in parks, boulevards, residential yards, and natural areas; and that reforestation efforts are critical to help replace the benefits that these trees provide. The resolution encourages local communities and residents to take proactive steps to increase the diversity of native trees in these areas before canopies are lost; and to take steps recommended, including conducting tree inventories of boulevards and parks, setting ash tree removal and replacement goals, and planning for increased wood waste as emerald ash borer becomes more established. The board received information on the impact of the emerald ash borer on the county, and especially in the county’s Lake Elmo Park Reserve and Square Lake Park. The borer has spread through the county from 2018 to today. Contact: Dan MacSwain, Natural Resources Coordinator, 651-430-4323 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