Our Mission: Providing quality services through responsible leadership, innovation and the cooperation of dedicated people Date: May 10, 2022 Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Communications Specialist, Senior 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 May 10, 2022, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota County Board makes appointments to advisory groups The Washington County Board of Commissioners made appointments to the county’s advisory boards May 10. The appointments are: * Michael Dolphin was appointed to the Workforce Development Board as a business representative for a partial first term, expiring June 30, 2023. * Kristin Tuenge, Scandia, was appointed to a fifth term expiring June 21, 2025, as a manager on the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District. * Ann Warner, Stillwater, was appointed to a partial term expiring June 21, 2023, as a manager on the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District. Contact: Holly Hess, Administrative Assistant to the County Board, 651-430-6015 County Board approves applications for liquor, gambling licenses The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved applications for liquor licenses and a gambling license in the county May 10. The county manages these applications within the county’s townships. The board approved an application for renewal of an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for Cenco Farms Inc., Afton Apple Orchard, in Denmark Township at 14421 S. 90th St., Hastings. The board also approved an application for a 1-4 day Temporary On-Sale Liquor License from VFW Post 323 for use at the Washington County Fair at the fairgrounds Aug. 3 - 7. The County Sheriff's Office, County Attorney's Office and the Public Health Department completed compliance/verification checks. The license fees pay for the administrative costs of the county for these verification checks. The board also approved an application from the Afton Bayport Lakeland Lions Club to conduct off-site gambling at the Washington County Fairgrounds Aug. 3 - 7. An application to conduct bingo can be made by organizations that meet the requirements of state law for off-site gambling without a license if it is conducted by an organization in connection with a county fair, the state fair, or a civic celebration and has a time limit. After approval by the County Board, the application is sent to the State Gambling Board for consideration. Contact: Christine Piskura, Taxpayer Services & Elections Division Manager, 651-430-8272 Minnesota Paving & Materials will do pavement preservation on CSAH 10 Minnesota Paving & Materials will do a pavement preservation project on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 10 after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.87 million contract with the company May 10. The project is between Manning Avenue and Stagecoach Trail in West Lakeland Township. The project will resurface the roadway, add dedicated turn lanes at Neal Avenue, replace signs, and stripe the roadway. The project will include ditch maintenance with the replacement of culverts and the removal of sediment. The project will be paid for with proceeds from the county transportation sales tax. Contact: Andrew Giesen, Engineer II, 651-430-4336 Valley Paving Inc. will do pavement preservation on CSAH 15 Valley Paving Inc. will do a $7.19 million pavement preservation project on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 15 in May Township and Scandia after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with the company May 10. The project will be between Lynch Road North and the northern county line covering 11.5 miles. It will resurface the roadway and widen turn lanes at a number of northbound and southbound intersections along the roadway. The project will also replace the signs and striping along the roadway, and replace culverts and remove sediment in the culverts in the area. The project will be paid for with proceeds from the county’s transportation sales tax and the wheelage tax, as well as with county state highway aid. Contact: Eden Rogers, Engineer I, 651-430-4352 T.A. Schifsky and Sons Inc. will do Highway 36 frontage road improvement T.A. Schifsky and Sons Inc. will do a Highway 36 Frontage Road and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 24 Roadway Improvement project after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $817,863 contract with the company May 10. The project in Oak Park Heights will realign 60th Street into CSAH 24, or North Osgood Avenue, farther to the south to move the intersection away from the signal intersection at Highway 36 and create a safer traffic route. The current frontage road between Oren and Osgood will be removed. It is close to Highway 36, and causes traffic issues with congestion, left turns, and queuing. Also, the wide median opening does not provide good guidance to drivers. The project will also improve grading, pavement realignment and resurfacing, make Americans with Disabilities Act improvements, and replace signs and striping. The county has worked with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the City of Oak Park Heights, the business community, and area landowners to complete the design of this project. Funding for the project will be 60% Local Partnership Program State Grant and 40% will be Highway State Aid. Contact: Eden Rogers, Engineer I, 651-430-4352 County Board recognizes National Law Enforcement Week, Law Enforcement Memorial Day in Washington County The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized National Law Enforcement Week and Law Enforcement Memorial Day at its meeting May 10. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15, and the week in which it falls, as a week for all law enforcement. Therefore, Washington County is proclaiming May 15, 2022, as Law Enforcement Memorial Day and will observe National Law Enforcement week from May 11, 2022, to May 17, 2022. This week is about honor, gratitude, remembrance, and support. Washington County extends its appreciation and sends a “thank you” to the dedicated law enforcement community for the vital contribution its members make in public safety for the well-being of county residents. In honor of Law Enforcement Memorial Day, the Washington County Sheriff's Office invites the public to the Historic Courthouse at noon Friday, May 13, to its annual ceremony memorializing those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Contact: Laura Perkins, Law Enforcement Public Information Officer, 651-430-7994 County Board proclaims May 14 as Apraxia Awareness Day The Washington County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May 14 as Apraxia Awareness Day at its meeting May 10. Childhood apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for children to speak. Children with the diagnosis of apraxia of speech generally have a good understanding of language and know what they want to say. However, they have difficulty learning or carrying out the complex movements that underlie speech. Apraxia Awareness Day May 14 aims to unite community members, children with childhood apraxia of speech, and their friends and family to be an unstoppable and united force, advocating for children with childhood apraxia of speech. Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Communications Specialist, Senior, 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