Our Mission: Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and the cooperation of dedicated people Date: Feb. 1, 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 Feb. 1, 2022, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota County Board approves contracts for therapy services The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved contracts with two providers for multi-systemic therapy Feb. 1. The contracts are with Timothy Lindwall and Corin Johnson, who will both provide services through Dec. 31, 2026, at an annual cost of up to $105,000. Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) is an evidence-based intensive in-home family therapy program for high-risk youth that addresses all environments that impact high-risk youth, such as home and family; school and teachers; and neighbors and friends to reduce re-arrest and out-of-home placement. An MST therapist provides direct service to approximately 15 families per year in the county. With the MST model, the therapist is available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week and participates in weekly coaching and mentoring to ensure the service provided adheres to the MST model and program outcomes. MST programming addresses youths' serious antisocial behavior within their social environment and has been proven to increase involvement in school/work, reduce rearrests, and decrease out-of-home placements of high-risk youth. Contact: Terry Thomas, Community Corrections Director, 651-430-6951 Stepping Stone will provide services to those experiencing homelessness Stepping Stone Emergency Housing will provide services to individuals served in the Washington County hotel shelter program after the County Board approved a $190,000 contract with the agency Feb. 1. The contract goes through Jan. 31, 2023. Washington County began a COVID-19 hotel emergency shelter in April 2020. In September 2020, Community Services began a contract with Stepping Stone Emergency Housing to provide case management services to individuals in the shelter. That contract was later amended to continue through Jan. 31. The county intends to operate a hotel emergency shelter in the interim until a permanent shelter is purchased and open for services. The county will use $800,000 of county American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay the service provider for the interim hotel shelter. Contact: Jennifer Castillo, Community Services Director, 651-430-6461 County will continue household hazardous waste collections in communities The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved agreements with county communities Feb. 1 to allow the county to conduct household hazardous waste collections in those communities during 2022. Six satellite weekend household hazardous waste collections are planned for 2022, in spring and fall. Satellite collections bring the services offered at the Washington County Environmental Center closer to residents, making it more convenient and practical for them to recycle and dispose their household hazardous waste and electronics. The agreements allow the county to use sites owned by others to conduct household hazardous waste collections. Events planned are: * at the Hugo Public Works Garage, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 16, 6900 137th St. N., Hugo; * at the Mahtomedi District Education Center, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23, enter 8000 75th St. N., and follow signs; * at Lily Lake Ice Arena in Stillwater 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 1208 S. Greeley St. Stillwater; * at the Forest Lake Transit Center, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, 19987 Fitzgerald Trail N., Forest Lake; and * at the Forest Lake Transit Center, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 10, and Sept. 17, 19987 Fitzgerald Trail N., Forest Lake. Confidential document shredding will be available at all events. The Environmental Center will also provide paper and electronics recycling at the Cottage Grove Clean Up event May 7. In addition to the satellite collection events, six dates have been set for confidential paper shredding at the Washington County Environmental Center, Wednesdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: * April 20; * May 25; * June 22; * Aug. 3; * Sept. 28; and * Nov. 9. In addition to remote-site collections, the Washington County Environmental Center, 4039 Cottage Grove Drive in Woodbury, provides residents with a free and convenient disposal option for household hazardous waste, electronics, and recyclables all year round. It is open Tuesday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center accepts household hazardous waste, electronics, and recyclables. The center also has a Free Product Room, in which residents may browse the shelves and take home previously-owned products such as paint, stain, automotive supplies, household cleaners, and other products. All items taken to the Environmental Center are inspected to determine if they are usable products. Contact: Adam Frederick, Public Health and Environment Environmental Coordinator, 651-430-6702 Sheriff’s Office will receive grant for Narcotics Task Force The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will receive $228,000 from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, for funding the county’s Narcotics Task Force, after the County Board accepted the grant Feb. 1. The grant runs through Dec. 31, 2023. The money will be used to reimburse the Sheriff's Office for insurance and personnel expenses of the sergeant overseeing the task force. The grant's purpose is to provide multi-jurisdictional support for the investigation and prosecution of gang, drug, and related violent crime. Contact: Sheriff Dan Starry, 651-430-7601 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