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Date:	Oct. 19, 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 Oct. 19, 2021, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County to receive money from state for child support enforcement
Washington County will receive just more than $1 million from the Minnesota Department of Human Services for its child support enforcement program after the County Board approved an agreement with the state agency Oct. 19.
The money will be used for enforcement between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023.
The purpose of the enforcement program is to establish paternity and secure financial support for minor children who are living apart from one or both parents.
This agreement is the same as the agreement that the county has had in previous years. 
In 2020, the parties to this agreement worked together to serve more than 5,698 families and collected $23,576,938. 
Contact: George Stone, Community Services Division Manager, 651-430-6472

County Board approves labor agreement with deputy sheriff sergeants
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Local #215 Deputy Sheriff Sergeants Oct. 19.
The county’s tentative agreement with the Deputy Sheriff Sergeants and specific items were awarded by an arbitrator, and the terms of the award are:
* on the first pay period following the effective date of the contract, a one-time 2% of salary will be paid in a lump sum;
* on the first pay period following the effective date of the contract, a one-time $1,000 wage lump sum payment will be paid;
* effective Dec. 31, 2021, a 2% market adjustment to the salary range maximum will occur for the job classification; and
* the uniform allowance for 2021 shall be $900.
The contract also specifies the county’s contribution to health insurance premiums.
Contact: Angie Nalezny, Human Resources Director, 651-430-6075

County will work with YMCA of the North for diversity, equity, inclusion training
Washington County will work with the YMCA of the North to conduct the county’s diversity, equity and inclusion training, after the County Board approved a $214,550 contract with the organization Oct. 19.
The YMCA of the North will provide foundational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training for county leadership and DEI steering team members and department equity change teams; administer the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and provide group training and debrief sessions; and provide consultation on action plans that integrate DEI best practices into organizational strategies and objectives.
Funding for this request comes from the Human Resources’ budget and an anonymous donation to the county's DEI program previously accepted by the board.
Contact: Angie Nalezny, Human Resources Director, 651-430-6075

County libraries will continue to provide hotspots to residents
The Washington County Library will provide hotspots, or mobile devices that provide connection to the internet, after the County Board approved a $141,200 contract with T-Mobile Oct. 19 to provide 400 hotspots for checkout.
In October 2020, the Library began a hotspot lending program funded by Washington County through the federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act. The program has been a success, with more than 3,000 checkouts of hotspots from county libraries.
The Library will continue the program with a one-year service agreement with T-Mobile. The program will be funded with Emergency Connectivity Fund funding received by Washington County and with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received by Washington County.
Contact: Aubrey Fonfara, Library Communications Specialist, 651-430-8504

County Board approves Hills of Spring Creek plat in Baytown Township
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a plat of Hills of Spring Creek in Baytown Township Oct. 19.
The 54-lot plat is northwest of Olinda Trail and west of Osgood Avenue.
Contact: Nancie Schwintek, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Division Manager, 651-430-6758

County will continue to work with Metre for marketing services
Washington County will continue to work with Metre LLC to provide graphic design, marketing, and advertising communication services, after the County Board approved an extension of a contract with the company Oct. 19.
The county has been working with Metre since March 2020 for COVID-19 communications. The company’s contract, being paid with COVID-19 response grant funding, will increase the contract to $220,000 for increased communication services related to COVID-19 outreach and education, and the WellSpring mental health and well-being campaign, as well as additional work with other county services.
Contact: David Brummel, Public Health & Environment Director, 651-430-6662

County will receive money to study Historic Courthouse
Washington County will receive $10,000 from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants Program – also known as Legacy Small Grant Program – to conduct a Historic Structure Report for the Historic Courthouse. 
The County Board accepted the grant Oct. 19. The grant application stated the county would provide at least a $50,000 match from the Historic Courthouse Restoration Fund.
A historic structure report provides documentary, graphic, and physical information about a property's history and existing condition. The purpose of the report is to provide information, direction, and support material for pursuing future funding for restorations and repairs.
Contact: Sandy Breuer, Parks Director, 651-430-4371

Sheriff’s Office will continue work with DEA
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after the County Board approved an agreement with the agency Oct. 19.
The Sheriff's Office will continue to partner with the DEA to staff a task force whose focus is large-scale illegal drug operations by providing one experienced deputy to the task force between Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022, and will adhere to the policy of body worn cameras. The DEA will reimburse the Sheriff's Office a maximum amount of $19,372 for overtime, based on the federal pay scale.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

Sheriff’s Office will receive grant for Toward Zero Deaths program
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will receive a $175,200 Toward Zero Deaths Grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, after the County Board accepted the grant Oct. 19.
The grant will be used between Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022.
The Toward Zero Deaths grant dollars will be used to reimburse overtime costs associated with enforcement against impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, move over, and seatbelt laws. The overtime cost will cover work performed by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the police departments of Stillwater, Bayport, Woodbury, Forest Lake, Oakdale, Oak Park Heights, Cottage Grove, and St. Paul Park. The Washington County Sheriff's Office will manage the grant.
Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601

City of Marine on St. Croix will receive funds from Jordan bequest for library
The City of Marine on St. Croix has made its annual request to the Washington County Board of Commissioners for funds from the Jordan bequest, with this year’s request of $6,000.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the use of the bequest Oct. 19. The money will be used for materials and services at the Marine Community Library.
In 2001, Elizabeth Jordan made a bequest in her will to the Washington County Library to be used for the Marine Library branch. In 2012, an agreement was reached between the City of Marine and the county that, upon request of the city, the county would disburse funds from the bequest to support the Marine Community Library.
Through a joint powers agreement between the city and the county, the city residents have maintained access to the county library system and continue to pay the county library tax. A separate non-profit organization, the Marine Library Association (MarLA), maintains a small community library, which includes privately purchased materials, as well as materials and services provided by the county library.
The request from the city follows directives related to disbursements made to the Jordan bequest as specified in the joint powers agreement.
Contact: Aubrey Fonfara, Library Communications Specialist, 651-430-8504

County Board reviews proposed redistricting principles, sets public hearing Nov. 30
The Washington County Board of Commissioners reviewed proposed principles Oct. 19.
The board also set a public hearing to receive comment on the principles at its meeting Nov. 30. The meeting will be conducted in the Board Room of the Government Center in Stillwater. Additional information may be found on the county’s website, www.co.washington.mn.us.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing boundaries of election districts to ensure the people of each district are equally represented. Redistricting happens every 10 years after the decennial census and will occur in 2022.
The principles that the board reviewed are:
* Number of Districts: The County will have 5 Commissioner Districts with a single commissioner for each district.
* Population Deviation: Commissioner Districts will meet the population deviation required by state statute, unless doing so is not possible because of the lack of authority to split precincts. 
* Contiguous Territory: Each Commissioner District shall be composed of contiguous territory. 
* Regular and Compact in Form: Commissioner Districts must be regular and compact in form to the extent practicable considering the geography of the county and the existence of other principles. 
* Relationship to Other Boundaries: Commissioner Districts will be drawn using town, municipal, ward, or precinct lines established by the cities and townships. 
* State and Constitutional Standards: The County Redistricting Plan shall conform with all applicable statutory and constitutional standards. 
* Dividing of Political Subdivisions: The County Redistricting Plan will avoid the dividing of political subdivisions unless necessary to meet the principle of equal population.
* Public Notice and Participation: At least three weeks in advance of acting to redistrict the county board will publish notice of the date, time, and location of meetings at which redistricting will be considered. There will be public notice of all meetings related to redistricting and the opportunity for public input throughout the process. 
* Preserving Communities of Interest: Commissioner Districts should attempt to preserve communities of interest, i.e., areas with similarities of interests, including, but not limited to, ethnic, geographic, economic, social, and cultural interests where that can be done in compliance with the other principles.  
* Minority Representation: Commissioner Districts shall not be drawn with either the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the voting rights of any county citizen on account of race, ethnicity, or membership in a language minority group.  
* Incumbents: Commissioner Districts shall not be drawn for the purpose of protecting or defeating incumbents and should not result in either undue incumbent protection or excessive incumbent conflicts. 
* Staggered Terms: In determining which commissioner districts will have 2-year terms to allow for staggered terms as required by the law, the County Board shall consider which commissioner districts were given 2-year terms as part of the previous two redistricting plans and rotate the 2-year terms equally amongst the given districts.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026






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