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Date:	July 26, 2022
Contact:	Yvonne Klinnert, Senior Communications Specialist
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 July 26, 2022, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board makes appointments to Workforce Development Board
Lucas Priestly was appointed to a partial term as the workforce representative on the county Workforce Development Board by the Washington County Board of Commissioners.
Priestly will serve a term expiring June 30, 2025. The board made the appointment July 26.
Contact: Holly Hess, Administrative Assistant to the County Board, 651-430-6015

County Board accepts grant to support veterans programs
The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted a $17,500 grant July 26 from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to enhance services to veterans.
Washington County has received funding from the department since 2012. This Operational Enhancement Grant will allow the Washington County Veterans Service Office to improve services offered to veterans and improve the overall operations of the office.
Contact: Ryan Carufel, Veterans Service Officer, 651-430-6857

County will receive $22,500 for prairie restoration
Washington County will use $22,500 from the Expedited Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program, part of the Outdoor Heritage Fund, to restore 11 acres of prairie within Pine Point Regional Park.
The County Board accepted the grant July 26.
The restored prairie within Pine Point Park will connect to a remnant oak savanna. Prairie and oak savannas are key habitats within the local ecological area, and contain the rarest plant, pollinator, and wildlife communities.
The grant comes from one of four funds established by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Funding is appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature and recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Project expenses for the restoration project will include purchase of native seed; a 10% in-kind match is required, which will be provided by staff time to plan and implement the project.
Contact: Sandy Breuer, Parks Director, 651-430-4371

Sheriff’s Office receives donation from Hugo Lions Club to support K9s
The Hugo Lions Club donated $3,000 to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to support the office’s K9 program.
The County Board accepted the donation July 26. The money will be used to purchase equipment for the K9 unit, such as a canine vest.
Contact: Laura Perkins, Law Enforcement Public Information Officer, 651-430-7994

Minnesota Mechanical Solutions will upgrade Lake Elmo park swim pond filtration system
Minnesota Mechanical Solutions Inc. will upgrade the swim pond filtration system in the Lake Elmo Park Reserve swim pond after the Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted a $1.18 million bid from the company July 26.
The swim pond opened in the 1980s and has been the most popular facility at Lake Elmo Park Reserve for decades. In 2000, the filtration system was upgraded to improve treatment and circulation of the pond. The 2000 project included a series of large filter tanks, four pumps, and a chemical feed system, as well as electrical equipment to power the entire system.
The project will be paid for with $985,500 from the state sales tax, $150,000 from county program aid, and $130,800 from the Parks operating fund balance:
The 2022 improvement project is needed to continue the day-to-day operation of the swim pond, and includes rehabilitation of filtration equipment, including recoating the five filters and all above-ground piping, replacing components within the filters, and replacing and automating valves. Existing motors will be replaced and existing pumps will be rehabilitated. These work together to circulate and treat water within the swim pond.
The project will add access points to the piping system to allow for routine removal of any sand or debris that accumulates in the pipes. The project will include rehabilitation of electrical equipment to account for changes and automation, and removal of any built-up sand within the existing piping.
Contact: Andrew Giesen, Engineer II, 651-430-4336

Sunram Construction will make improvements to St. Croix Bluffs boat launch
Sunram Construction will make improvements to the St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park boat launch, after the Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed to a $1.65 million contract with the company July 26.
The park, incorporated into the county’s parks in 1996, has had some minor improvements made to the boat launch, and this area has remained the same over the last 26 years. Over time, the existing concrete ramp has deteriorated, due to high use and long service life. This has led to a steep slope break near the end of the ramp, as well as a scour hole from power loading boats onto trailers.
The project will address the deteriorated ramp by replacing the concrete ramp with an optimized slope to properly launch a boat and add protection to the end of the ramp to account for power loading onto trailers. The project will include dredging the harbor and channel to return elevations set back in the 1970s and to improve and maintain navigation when the river’s water elevation is low.
Also, the parking lot will be resurfaced, along with some curb modifications within the parking lot to improve maneuverability of vehicles towing trailers. Finally, this project will include replacing the staircase to the docks with an accessible switchback that meets current design standards.
Most of the work will be done this fall.
The project will be paid for with $700,000 of American Rescue Plan Act money, $620,000 from the Parks operating fund balance, and $350,500 from County Program Aid.
St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, in the southeastern part of the county along the St. Croix River, was incorporated into Washington County’s parks system in 1996 and was formerly known as the Control Data Employee Recreation Area.
Contact: Andrew Giesen, Engineer II, 651-430-4336

Manning Avenue, 30th Street will get traffic signal
The intersection of Manning Avenue, or County Highway 15, at 30th Street will get a stop light, after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.11 million contract with Ramsey Companies Inc. July 26.
The intersection is at the corner where the City of Lake Elmo, Baytown Township, and West Lakeland Township meet, just southwest of the Lake Elmo Airport.
In 2020, Washington County completed a preliminary study on County Highway 15 from County Highway 10 to County Highway 14. From this study, it was determined that intersection improvements were needed at 30th Street and County Highway 15. Left turn lanes were added on County Highway 15 in 2020 as Phase 1 of those improvements.
The county worked with the City of Lake Elmo, Baytown Township, and West Lakeland Township to review design options, and a signalized intersection with the addition of turn lanes on 30th Street was determined to be the right fit.
In addition to the traffic signal, there will be ADA improvements and pedestrian crossings, stormwater treatment improvements, and new signing and pavement striping.
The cost share will include:
* $368,300 from Washington County, which will be paid for with Highway State Aid;
* $554,200 from the City of Lake Elmo;
* $134,400 from Baytown Township; and
* $134,400 from West Lakeland Township.
The other entities concurred with the bids received; the County Board also approved maintenance agreements with the city and townships.
Contact: Eden Rogers, Engineer I, 651-430-4352 


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