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Date:	Oct. 25, 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 Oct. 25, 2022, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board sets 2 public hearings for Nov. 15
The Washington County Board of Commissioners will conduct two public hearings Nov. 15, one to review revisions to the county’s fee schedule for 2023 and one to review comments on the 2023-2027 Washington County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
The board set the hearings at its meeting Oct. 25.
The county's fee schedule is updated annually. All fee changes are brought to the County Board for approval. By law, the fee schedule can only be adopted after conducting a public hearing.
As required by state law, the County Board will conduct a public hearing to review comments on the 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). During the public hearing, the County Board will hear public comments and consider any recommended changes to the draft CIP.
The hearings will be conducted in the Board Room of the Government Center, 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater. The hearings will be conducted soon after the start of the board meeting at 9 a.m.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Senior Communications Specialist, 651-430-6026, and Frank Ticknor, Deputy Public Works Director, 651-430-4319

Washington County Board recognizes October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month
The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month Oct. 25.
The Federal Department of Homeland Security and the National Cybersecurity Alliance have sponsored October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month since 2004. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is designed to educate public and private sector partners with the goal to raise awareness about risks and issues surrounding information security. Washington County's Information Technology Department works diligently to ensure the protection of county data systems and information.
In 2022, cybersecurity risks continued to be addressed through updated training for employees, advancing threat detection capabilities, and continuous improvement to incident response. Cybersecurity efforts have significantly focused on ensuring the security and integrity of election systems and data.
The resolution by the board states that it recognizes that the county has a role in identifying and protecting its residents from, and responding to, cyber threats that may have a significant impact to the individual and collective security and privacy. The board also recognizes that local governments are increasingly targeted by cyber criminals to gain illegal access to sensitive information which county employees protect and safeguard daily.
Businesses and governments are increasingly reliant on information systems and technology to 
support financial services, energy, telecommunications, transportation, utilities, health care, and emergency response systems. The county continues building cybersecurity awareness for all employees by requiring the completion of security awareness training courses designed to address the most common risks.
The county also recognizes that maintaining the security of cyberspace is a shared responsibility in which everyone has a critical role to play, and awareness of computer security essentials will improve the security of Washington County’s information, infrastructure, and economy.
Contact: Adam Larson, Information Technology Director, 651-430-6421

County will remove snow, ice on 9-mile stretch of Highway 96 this winter
Washington County will take over the snow and ice removal on a nine-mile stretch of Highway 96 through Dellwood, Grant, Stillwater Township, and the City of Stillwater this winter.
The County Board approved the plan Oct. 25.
The county and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) are in negotiations to transfer jurisdiction of the roadway from the state to the county. That is expected to occur next year. As part of the negotiations, MnDOT expressed interest in the county accepting snow and ice maintenance responsibilities this winter on the highway from Highway 244 to Highway 95, ahead of the proposed jurisdictional transfer of Highway 96. It is expected that adding the highway to the county's current plow routes will result in a slight but manageable increase in the overall response time during snow events. It is expected that the county will be able to provide a higher level of service to the public than MnDOT was able to provide.   
MnDOT has agreed to pay $63,000 to the county for snow and ice control services on the highway, with the amount calculated based on the county's historical maintenance costs for snow and ice control for similar roadways.
Contact: Wayne Sandberg, Public Works Director, 651-430-4339

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. 25.
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, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2026, and will adhere to the policy of body worn cameras. The DEA will reimburse the Sheriff's Office for certain overtime costs, based on the federal pay scale.
Contact: Laura Perkins, Public Information Officer, 651-430-7994

Kraus-Anderson will oversee Historic Courthouse exterior improvements
Kraus-Anderson Construction will provide construction management services for the Washington County Historic Courthouse exterior improvement project after the County Board approved a contract with the company Oct. 25.
The project will restore the exterior, roof, and dome, and do brick and mortar repair to the Historic Courthouse, as well as some site grading.
In 2021, Washington County hired HGA architects and engineers for preliminary and final design services for the project. As construction manager, Kraus-Anderson will provide a full range of services through design and construction, including design review, constructability analysis, cost estimating, and bid document preparation. The company will lead the construction bid process. During construction, the construction manager will provide overall project inspection services, project coordination, and oversight through construction and warranty period.
Construction will be done in summer 2023.
Contact: Eden Rogers, Public Works Engineer, 651-430-4352

County Board accepts donations to county for third quarter 2022
The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted donations to the county for the third quarter of 2022 Oct. 25.
The county received $3,299.39 in cash donations during the quarter.
The Library received almost $1,300 in donations. Two donors provided individual donations of $150, combined, and the rest was received through donation boxes at the Environmental Center and at the library branches. Public Works received almost $330 for Parks, through donations for the Historic Courthouse exhibit, for trail enhancements, and through the Stewardship Fun, which received money for the Living Forest fund and Milkweed for Monarchs. The Sheriff’s Office received $1,600, most of which was directed to the staff appreciation day, with $200 directed to community engagement.
The county also received $2,830 in in-kind donations during the quarter. 
The county received gift cards from the Woodbury Police Department’s Night Out. The Library also received gift cards to give to survey participants. The Parks received root beer for the community ice cream social in July.
The Sheriff’s Office received an ultrasonic cleaner from the jail dentist. The Sheriff’s Office also received food, soda, water, prizes, and tableware to support the office’s Staff Appreciation Day.
Contact: Yvonne Klinnert, Senior Communications Specialist, 651-430-6026


 




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Government Center | 14949 62nd Street North | P. O. Box 6 | Stillwater, MN 55082-0006
P: 651-430-6001 | F: 651-430-6017 | TTY: 651-430-6246
www.co.washington.mn.us

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