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Date:	Feb. 21, 2023
Contact:	Tina Elam, Communications Manager
Phone:	651-430-6004, after hours 651-592-5989
E-mail:	tina.elam@co.washington.mn.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The following actions were taken at the Feb. 21, 2023, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota

County Board makes appointments to advisory boards
The Washington County Board of Commissioners made appointments to county advisory boards Feb. 21.
Emily Stephens, Cottage Grove, was appointed to a partial first term as a manager of the South Washington Watershed District. Stephens’ term will expire April 30, 2024.
Also, the board reappointed Sharon Doucette, Cottage Grove, to a second term and Michael Madigan, Woodbury, to a sixth term as managers on the South Washington Watershed District. Both will be serving terms beginning May 1 and ending April 30, 2026.
Jonathan Pritchard was appointed to a partial term expiring June 30, 2026, as the county commissioner District 1 representative on the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee.
Contact: Jennifer Ochocki, Coordinator to the County Administrator, 651-430-6010

County will continue to work with Stepping Stone to assist with emergency housing
Washington County will continue to work with Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, after the County Board agreed to increase funding to the agency by $190,000 Feb. 21.
That will bring the county’s contract with the agency to $380,000, which runs from Feb. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023. The agency provides services to individuals in Washington County through a hotel emergency housing program.
The county has worked with the agency since September 2021. It will continue as service provider for the program, operating a 20-unit hotel-based emergency shelter program.
Also Feb. 21, the County Board accepted an additional $22,200 grant from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program. The money will be used through September 2023 to stabilize families and individuals in their existing homes, shorten the amount of time that people spend in emergency shelters, and assist people with securing transitional or permanent affordable housing.
Contact: Sarah Tripple, Community Services Division Manager, 651-430-6480

County Board approves application for liquor licenses for Veterans Rest Camp
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an application for liquor licenses for the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp in May Township Feb. 21.
Washington County processes all liquor licenses for townships within the county. The county reviews the necessary information for the licenses, including insurance requirements, and the Sheriff's Office, County Attorney's Office, and the Department of Public Health & Environment complete compliance and verification checks.
The application is for the renewal of an on-sale license and a Sunday liquor license.
All requirements for the application have been completed, and the appropriate fees were paid by the applicant. The license fees pay for the cost of the county for administration, compliance, and verification checks.
Contact: Amy Stenftenagel, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Director, 651-430-6182

County, with funding from the state, will work to improve safety at Highway 95, CSAH 28 intersection
Washington County will reconstruct a portion of Highway 95 that is next to the intersection with County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 28, or 110th Street, in Denmark Township after the County Board approved an agreement with MnDOT Feb. 21.
The state is providing $710,000 for the project. 
In 2019, MnDOT reconstructed the portion of Highway 95 that is adjacent to the intersection with CSAH 28. The highway was lowered significantly to improve sight conditions and operations at the intersection. Due to the lowering of the intersection, the eastern CSAH 28 leg of the intersection was significantly steepened, resulting in limited sight lines for motorists approaching the intersection from the east.
The project will address the concerns on CSAH 28 and widen the existing paved shoulders to improve safety for motorized and non-motorized users alike.
Contact: Erin Clarkowski, Engineer II, 651-430-4384

County public health department maintains accreditation
Washington County’s Department of Public Health & Environment maintained its accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and presented the County Board with its recognition Feb. 21.
PHAB is a national organization which provides a framework for health departments to identify performance improvement opportunities, demonstrate credibility, develop leadership, and improve relationships with the community. The county’s public health department achieved initial PHAB accredited status in March 2016, and was notified in November 2022 that the department was reaccredited after a year-long application, review, and site visit process.
The PHAB standards and measures align with the 10 essential public health services, which describe public health activities that communities should undertake, assessment, policy development, and assurance.
Contact: Stephanie Souter, Senior Community/Environmental Health Program Manager, 651-430-6701
Photo Cutline: 
Employees and leaders from Washington County’s Department of Public Health & Environment are recognized by the County Board for maintaining the department’s accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board. 

North Pine Aggregate will do Oakgreen Avenue reconstruction
North Pine Aggregate will reconstruct Oakgreen Avenue, or County Road 65, in Baytown and West Lakeland townships after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $9.4 million contract with the company Feb. 21.
The project will fully reconstruct the three miles of the county road between County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 10 to CSAH 14. There will also be intersection work on CSAH 10 to CSAH 14. The project is designed to improve the ride on Oakgreen Avenue, maintain wide shoulders to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, improve safety with turn lanes and better sightlines, and improve drainage.
The final design was done last year, and utilities will be relocated this year, along with construction on the intersections of CSAH 10 and CSAH 14. The reconstruction of County Road 65 is planned for 2024.
Funding for the construction will come from the county transportation sales tax and county program aid.
Contact: Andrew Giesen, Engineer III, 651-430-4336

Hagen, Christensen & McIlwain will provide plans for LEC remodel
Hagen, Christensen & McIlwain (HCM) Architects will provide architectural and engineering services for a remodeling of the Washington County Law Enforcement Center in Stillwater after the County Board approved a $147,530 contract with the firm Feb. 21.
Funding will come from the county’s capital investment fund.
The Stillwater Law Enforcement Center was built in 1993 with an expansion completed in 2009.
In 2022, a Master Plan was completed, and it found a need to replace wall finishes, furniture, safety systems, and update the design of the building to maximize the space’s flexibility. Updates are also needed to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing.
Work will be done while it remains occupied, and will coincide with existing projects.
It is expected that construction will begin at the end of this year, and be complete in the fall of 2024.
Contact: Connor Lewis, Building Services Project Manager, 651-430-6249


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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

Washington County is an equal opportunity organization and employer