Our Mission: Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and the cooperation of dedicated people Date: Aug. 24, 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 Aug. 24, 2021, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota County will receive $500,000 to provide services to those needing homes Washington County will receive a $502,300 grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to be used to prevent or mitigate homelessness in the county. The County Board approved the agreement Aug. 24. Washington County applied for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) funds and was awarded $502,300 for two years beginning Oct. 2 and running through Sept. 30, 2023. Funds can be used to prevent or mitigate homelessness and will be allocated to the following programs: * Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties (CAPRW) for support services and rent payment assistance for adults, $79,996; * Salvation Army for support services and rent payment assistance for all households, $74,360; * Solid Ground for support services and rent payment assistance through the Home Again program for families, $180,000; and * YMCA for support services and rent payment assistance for youth, $144,074. The county will use $23,870 to administer the programs. The county received its last grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency in June 2019. Contact: Sarah Tripple, Community Services Division Manager, 651-430-6480 County Board reviews application for lawful gambling permit at Carpenter Nature Center The Washington County Board of Commissioners reviewed an application for an exempt permit of Minnesota Lawful Gambling from Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center to conduct a raffle in Denmark Township Sept. 12. The permit would allow the group to conduct a raffle at the nature center in Denmark Township. Denmark Township has been notified of the event. After approval by the County Board, the application is sent to the Minnesota State Gambling Board for its consideration. Contact: Christine Piskura, Taxpayer Services & Election Division Manager, 651-430-8272 County Board approves temporary liquor license application for Legion post The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an application for a temporary on-site liquor license Aug. 24 from the Hesley Jensen American Legion Post No. 491. The permit is for a special event Sept. 18 at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Baytown Township. Washington County processes all liquor license applications for the townships in the county. The county reviews the liquor liability insurance, and the Sheriff's Office, County Attorney's Office, and the Department of Public Health & Environment perform compliance and verification checks. The license fees pay the cost of the county for administration, compliance, and verification checks. Contact: Christine Piskura, Taxpayer Services & Election Division Manager, 651-430-8272 County will buy property in northern Stillwater for future road improvements The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed to purchase property at 2220 Boom Road in Stillwater Aug. 24 to be used for future road projects. Washington County is in the planning stage to make improvements to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 11 in the City of Stillwater. The property on Boom Road is an essential component to the future improvements. The CSAH 11 project, which will be in the county’s 2022 five-year Capital Improvement Program, will include safety improvements for the road and intersection at Fairy Falls Road and Boom Road; site line improvements; encroachments within the right-of-way; erosion and slope support along the shoulders; and address water and drainage issues. After a review with the landowners, and the impact that road improvements would have on the land, they expressed an interest in selling their parcel. Contact: Sharon Price, Right-of-Way Specialist, 651-430-4391 Sheriff’s Office receives donations from Marathon Petroleum The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received two donations from the Marathon Petroleum Company, which the County Board accepted Aug. 24. The Sheriff’s Office Occupational Resources for Employees (CORE) Program provides advocacy, educational, vocational, interpersonal, social and spiritual opportunities to promote wellness as defined by the individual. The Marathon Petroleum Company has donated $6,880 to help pay for this training on personal and professional breakthroughs for officers in September. Team members of the Sheriff’s Office will learn to reflect on traumas and triumphs associated with modern law enforcement and ways to have a more resilient career and family life. The company also donated $33,700 to support Washington County's water recovery. The Sheriff's Office will use the funds to purchase life jackets, dive respirators, and a boat motor to assist during water recovery. Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601 County Board recognizes watershed district for overflow project in Cottage Grove The Washington County Board of Commissioners presented a Commissioner Award to the South Washington Watershed District Aug. 24 for the Overflow Project at Cottage Grove Ravine Park. Matt Moore, administrator of the South Washington Watershed District (SWWD), accepted the award on behalf of the SWWD Board of Managers in recognition of its vision and partnership on the completion of Overflow Project at Cottage Grove Ravine Park. The project spanned more than 20 years. SWWD has set a precedent and exceeded expectations in its role as a collaborative partner with Washington County on the Overflow Project at Cottage Grove Ravine Park. Contact: Matt Moore, South Washington Watershed District Administrator, 651-714-3729 County Board reviews plans for ARPA expenditures The Washington County Board of Commissioners reviewed plans Aug. 24 for spending the $51 million that the county will receive through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The U.S. Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in March, which provides fiscal relief to state and local governments, aimed at mitigating the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. ARPA provides $65.1 billion in direct aid to counties and allocated hundreds of billions of dollars for public health assistance for vulnerable populations, education and housing stabilization, economic recovery assistance, and direct assistance for families and individuals. Washington County will receive $50,975,893 under ARPA, of which $25,487,946.50 was received in May, to address the expenditures and impacts of COVID-19 and to replace revenue shortages related to the pandemic. Following guidance from the U.S. Treasury, and with input from the County Board, county staff developed a project plan. The plan has four categories: * supporting the public health needs of county residents and staff; * supporting workers, residents, businesses, and others negatively impacted by the pandemic; * county infrastructure improvements funded by lost revenue; and * investments in broadband. The plan includes programs that will support community health workers, and those who respond to those experiencing a mental health crisis. Other programs will assist residents who are experiencing or could experience homelessness or need access to healthy food. Other programs will help pay for the modification of county buildings and services to improve safety for residents and employees during a time of pandemic. In addition, the county will continue programs such as COVID-19 testing and vaccination to manage the pandemic. 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