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Date:	Jan. 4, 2022
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 Jan. 4, 2022, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board conducts annual organizational meeting
The Washington County Board of Commissioners conducted its annual organizational meeting for 2022 Jan. 4.
Commissioner Wayne Johnson, District 4, was elected the board chair for the year. Commissioner Gary Kriesel, District 3, was elected as board vice chair.
During the meeting, the board recognized Commissioner Lisa Weik, District 5, who served as board chair during 2021.
The board also set its meeting schedule for the year. The board will meet most Tuesdays at 9 a.m. in the Government Center, with some exceptions. Some of the meetings will be scheduled as workshops only, during which the board will discuss policy issues, but will not take action. Residents may consult the county’s website at www.co.washington.mn.us and see the county calendar for the full schedule of meetings for the year.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Public Information Manager, 651-430-6026

County Board reappoints members to county advisory groups 
The Washington County Board of Commissioners reappointed members to advisory groups for 2022. The districts noted are commissioner districts. The reappointments are:
* to the Community Corrections Advisory Board, Kevin Horst, District 1; Kellie Reynolds, District 4; Andrew Fields, an education representative; Peter Koerner, a law enforcement representative; Nathan Sosinski, public defender's office; and Christine VonDelinde, victims’ representative;
* to the Community Development Agency, Daniel Dingle, District 4;
* to the Historic Courthouse Committee, Mark Schroeder, District 1; Shauna Holt, District 2; Carly Johnson, District 3; Shana Haraldson Morse, District 5; and Karlene McComb, Washington County Historical Society representative;
* to the Library Board, Tammy McCulloch, District 5;
* to the Mental Health Advisory Committee, Shana Haraldson Morse, District 5;
* to the Minnesota Extension Committee, Bob Hervig, District 1; and Avis Peters, District 3;
* to the Parks and Open Space Commission, Jyneen Thatcher, District 1, and Anne Seiss, District 3; and
* to the Veteran's Rest Camp on Big Marine, Tim Bishop, At-Large.
Contact: Alyssa Soderlund, Administrative Assistant, 651-430-6015

Alliance Courier will continue to provide library delivery services
Alliance Courier will continue to provide library delivery services throughout the Washington County Library system after the County Board approved a four-year $145,773 contract with the agency Jan. 4.
Alliance Courier will provide delivery services to all libraries in Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Mahtomedi, Lake Elmo, Forest Lake, Stillwater, Bayport, and Lakeland, and delivery services to three library lockers and book drop locations in Newport, Marine on St. Croix, and Hugo.
Contact: Kim Ukura, Social Media Specialist, 651-275-8511

County Board approves 3-year agreement for 4-H services
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with the University of Minnesota Extension Jan. 4 outlining 4-H programs and staffing that the county will support in the coming three years.
The county regularly enters into an agreement with the University of Minnesota Extension Service which outlines the relationship between the two parties for funding, staffing, and in-kind services. The agreement for 2022 includes 2.5 full-time and one three-quarters-time of 4-H Program Coordinator time for community youth development, the Youth Teaching Youth school-based programs, or master gardener education. The program coordinators are employees of the university and are co-located within county offices. The cost for these services is $250,085.
This agreement reflects that the county will also support a half-time administrative support specialist. The Washington County cost for these services for 2022 is $30,535.
The term of the agreement is for three years from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2024. Provisions are made for pay adjustments each year
Contact: David Brummel, Public Health & Environment Director, 651-430-6662

WSB & Associates will design Lake Elmo Park Reserve Swim Pond improvements
WSB & Associates will design improvements to the Lake Elmo Park Reserve Swim Pond filtration system after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $124,617 contract with the company Jan. 4.
The project includes the final design of improvements to the swim pond filtration system, access, pavement improvements, and equipment storage space.  
The filtration system at the swim pond circulates and treats 8 million gallons of water a day and must be upgraded to meet the current and future demand to ensure a safe and fun experience for swim pond users.
The contract will be paid for with Metropolitan Council funds for park improvements.
Contact: Andrew Giesen, Engineer II, 651-430-4336

County Board receives financial audit highlights, receives financial reporting awards
The Washington County Board of Commissioners received a report on the annual financial audit of the county Jan. 4, and accepted several awards for financial reporting.
The annual financial report for 2020 highlights showed that the county’s net position increased by $56.9 million, driven by investments in capital assets, a reduction in bonded debt, intergovernmental funding, and investment returns. The county’s unrestricted fund balance increased, while expenditures also increased, because of large increase in intergovernmental revenue and strong investment performance in the general fund. The county has approximately 5.9 months of expenditures in the fund balance.
The county’s summary financial statement will be published in the county’s official newspapers, the Country Messenger and the Stillwater Gazette. It will have charts of the county’s 2020 revenue and expenditures, fund financial statements, and a statement of the county’s fiduciary net position. It will also list any disbursement of funds of more than $5,000.
The board received the Government Financial Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Award for the county's 2019 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the GFOA 2019 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting.
This is the 35th consecutive year the county has received the award for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The award is intended to recognize and encourage excellence in financial reporting by state and local governments. The county's consistent participation in the program demonstrates its commitment to quality financial management practices and open and clear communication with its residents. Of Minnesota counties, 20% received the award, and nationally, fewer than 20% received the award. The award has a direct impact when rating agencies assess the county's financial practices during the bond issuance process.
The board also received the second GFOA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award. This report is designed to be readily accessible and easily understandable to the general public. It aims to reduce jargon and technical language, and includes charts and graphs to assist users in understanding the county’s financial position. Of the 87 counties in Minnesota, five received the award; nationally, just more than 3% received the award.
The board also received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the county's 20201 Budget. The award marks the 24th consecutive year of receiving the award. To receive the award, the budget document is submitted to the GFOA and goes through a number of peer reviews to determine if the quality of the document meets the nationally recognized standards for effective budget presentation. The document must meet all 14 mandatory criteria on which it is rated to receive an award. The award program began in 1998 and is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.
Contact: Carl Jacobson, Principal Accountant, 651-430-6044

County will purchase advanced traffic management system
Washington County will purchase an advanced traffic management system to assist with controlling traffic signals remotely after the County Board approved a $201,500 contract with Traffic Control Corporation on Jan. 4.
The county will use federal funds allocated to this project to purchase the system and to upgrade communication links with traffic signals to allow for more rapid response when malfunctions occur at intersections.
The county owns 83 signal systems, and operates 12 more on behalf of other agencies. Two traffic signal technicians make repairs and do preventative maintenance for the signals. The new system will provide centralized access to all the signals to allow for monitoring operations and errors and will provide modem or fiber access from the signals to the Public Works office.
It is anticipated that eventually all signals will have remote connection capability via the new system, and county staff will be alerted to any malfunctions so that they can be quickly assessed and any issues addressed.
Contact: Joe Gustafson, Traffic Engineer, 651-430-4351

County Board adopts 2022 legislative agenda
The Washington County Board of Commissioners adopted a legislative agenda for the 2022 session Jan. 4.
Each year, the County Board adopts position statements on state legislative issues that impact Washington County. The county's legislative agenda includes priority items that are specific to county interests and items that are of a more general county nature. The items provide a position statement, supporting information, likely supporters and potential opposition, and the financial impact. The county legislative agenda includes the adopted platforms from the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) and the Minnesota Inter-County Association (MICA). Those documents will be added after their adoption by those organizations.
The board discussed the agenda items at a workshop in December.
The legislative agenda may be found on the county’s website after it is adopted at www.co.washington.mn.us.
Contact: Jan Lucke, Deputy Administrator, 651-430-6003


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Phone:  651-430-6001  •  Fax:  651-430-6017  •  TTY:  651-430-6246
www.co.washington.mn.us
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