The following actions were taken at the Oct. 24, 2023, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota.
County Board …
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The following actions were taken at the Oct. 24, 2023, Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Government Center in Stillwater, Minnesota.
County Board approves contracts with attorneys for family cases
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved separate contracts Oct. 24 with attorneys for legal representation for children in need of protection or services, termination of parental rights, and permanency cases.
The contracts will be in effect from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2028. The attorneys are Greg Schmidt, John Chitwood, Theresa Paulson, Amy Senn, and Viet-Hanh Winchell.
The county is required by state law to provide representation for parents or guardians in child in these cases. State law also requires reasonable compensation for the attorney.
Minnesota's 10th District Judicial Branch reviews interested applicants and selects the attorneys who receive the agreements with Washington County. No case assignments are guaranteed. Washington County currently has agreements with these same five attorneys for children in need of protection or services representation through Dec. 31.
Since 2014, the county has been contracting with attorneys to provide these services for a flat monthly amount of compensation to manage and predict costs.
Contact: Jennifer Wagenius, Deputy County Administrator, 651-430-6007
County Board approves application for temporary liquor license for Valley Chorale event
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved an application Oct. 24 for a one-to-four-day temporary on-sale liquor license permit from the Valley Chamber Chorale for its annual Christmas event Dec. 8-10.
The chorale will be at St. Croix Prep Performing Arts Center at the St. Croix Upper School, 4260 Stagecoach Trail N., Baytown Township.
The County Board oversees liquor licenses in townships. Applicants provide proof of the appropriate insurance liability, and the Sheriff’s Office has been notified of the event.
Contact: Christine Piskura, Taxpayer Services & Election Division Manager, 651-430-8272
County Board approves DNR purchase of land for scientific, natural area
The Washington County Board of Commissioners gave its approval Oct. 24 to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to purchase 50 acres in Cottage Grove to be added to the department’s scientific and natural area.
The DNR acquired the 237-acre Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) in 1998 to preserve the sand dunes along the Mississippi River in Cottage Grove for the benefit of Minnesota's ecological and geological diversity, scientific study, and public understanding. SNAs are public lands where native plants and animals flourish, rare species are protected, and other high-quality natural features exist.
The DNR seeks to acquire an additional 50 adjacent acres south of 103rd Street from a willing seller, Dunes LLC, for expansion of this area. State law requires County Board approval of proposed Scientific and Natural Areas acquisitions within 90 days of notification by the state.
The City of Cottage Grove expressed support of the acquisition Oct. 4.
Contact: June Mathiowetz, Senior Planner, 651-430-6016
Sheriff’s Office receives donation from Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received $3,300 from the Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network to be used for a Shop With a Cop event.
The County Board accepted the donation Oct. 24.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will collaborate with the Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network in December to support the annual Shop With a Cop event at Walmart in Oak Park Heights. Deputies, correctional officers, and office staff will be shopping with approximately 10 children whose parents are in the military, many of whom are currently deployed overseas.
This event is the Sheriff's Office's most popular event and brings joy to the children, families, and, of course, the Sheriff's Office. It builds positive relationships between deputies, correctional officers, and children while pairing them to shop together during the holiday season. This ensures everyone has a gift to open for Christmas and creates a bonding experience with law enforcement and the communities the Sheriff's Office serves.
The Sheriff's Office expressed its appreciation to the Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network for its donation that supports military families.
Contact: Laura Perkins, Law Enforcement Public Information Officer, 651-430-7994
Sheriff’s Office will purchase 20 police vehicles
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will purchase 20 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles, after the County Board approved a $1.34 million contract Oct. 24 with Guardian Fleet Safety LLC to purchase and equip the vehicles.
The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for providing public safety services to the residents and visitors throughout Washington County. On average, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office staff drive 2 million miles a year, patrolling a 430-square mile county. Sheriff’s Office staff are responsible for patrolling state, county, and local roadways, while providing law enforcement services to a county with a population of more than 270,000 residents.
This purchase will be funded by the Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program, which improves the functioning of the criminal justice system to prevent or combat juvenile delinquency and to assist victims of crime. This contract will be effective from final signature through Feb. 28, 2027.
Contact: Laura Perkins, Law Enforcement Public Information Officer, 651-430-7994
County Board approves election services agreement with cities
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved joint powers agreements for election services for several cities in the county Oct. 24.
The agreements are with the cities of Birchwood Village, Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Grant, Landfall, Pine Springs, St. Paul Park, and Woodbury.
The county has updated the election services joint powers agreements and the cities have approved them, which replace previous agreements with the cities. Changes include clarification of county and city responsibilities in line with changes to election administration and election laws.
The agreement with the City of St. Paul Park is the first ever with that city.
The cities are charged fees in accordance with election joint powers agreements and are reviewed annually and approved by the County Board within the countywide fee schedule.
Contact: Amy Stenftenagel, Property Records and Taxpayer Services Director, 651-430-6182
County Board approves option to purchase land to include in Big Marine Park Reserve
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the execution of an option to purchase the Kelley Land and Cattle property in May Township Oct. 24 to include in the county’s Big Marine Park Reserve.
The property is in part of the southeast quadrant of Manning Avenue (County State Aid Highway 15) and 170th Street (County State Aid Highway 4), and its purchase is consistent with the Big Marine Park Reserve Master Plan originally adopted in January 1989 and updated in 2010. The master plan identifies 1,883.8 acres to eventually be included in the park reserve. The county now owns about 850 acres of that land.
The option agreement was initiated by the property owner who advised the county of an interest in selling the property. The property is approximately 685 acres. Both the Land and Water Legacy Program and the Met Council grant program have included the potential purchase as part of their long-range plans for inclusion into Big Marine Park Reserve. Upon notice given to exercise each option, a purchase value will be determined by independent appraisal and amendments that include the value of each phase to be purchased and will be brought before the County Board for approval.
The Phase I Option is 240 acres to be purchased by June 2024, the Phase II Option is 192 acres to be purchased by June 2025, and the Phase III Option is 253 acres to be purchased by June 2026.
Contact: Sharon Price, Senior Right of Way Specialist, 651-430-4391
County Board approves all-hazard mitigation plan
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a 2023 All-Hazard County Mitigation Plan Oct. 24.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management team has completed the most recent update to the Washington County All Hazard Mitigation Plan, which occurs every five years. The project brought together representatives from 25 cities and six townships in hazard mitigation planning to identify risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural and manmade disasters. In addition, there were conversations with other agencies, as well as the public to have a more robust understanding of the needs. This has led to the development of long-term strategies for protecting people and property from future hazardous events.
Funding for the program comes from grants, 75% federally funded, with 25% locally funded.
Future projects identified for the plan include buying generators, sirens, weather monitoring and detection equipment, as well as replacing culverts and making sanitary sewer and cybersecurity improvements.
Hazard mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. It is most effective when implemented under a comprehensive, long-term mitigation plan. Mitigation plans are key to breaking the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.
Contact: Douglas Berglund, Emergency Services Manager, 651-430-7682
County Board will continue working with Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren for lobbying services
The Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed Oct. 24 to continue to work with the law firm of Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren, the firm that provides state lobbying services to Washington County.
The contract with the firm will be for an amount not to exceed $70,000 annually for the period of Nov. 1 to Oct. 31, 2025.
For more than a decade, Washington County has contracted for state lobbying services to:
In 2018, Washington County selected Larkin Hoffman through a competitive request for proposals process to provide state lobbying services for two years. The contract was amended three times to add an additional year of service.
During that time, the firm has assisted the county is obtaining funding for the Highway 36 and Manning Avenue interchange and the Highway 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue interchange, as well as increased funding for state-mandated services.
Contact: Jan Lucke, Deputy Administrator, 651-430-6003, or Brian Kaufenberg, Communications Specialist, 651-430-6008
County Board extends appreciation to Belwin Conservancy for assistance
The Washington County Board of Commissioners extended its appreciation to Belwin Conservancy Oct. 24 for assistance in disposing of storm debris last spring.
An early April storm caused a significant amount of tree debris, especially in the southern half of the county. The county's emergency management and public works teams quickly developed a cooperative agreement with Belwin Conservancy to open a residential debris drop-off site on Belwin property just south of Interstate 94 at the Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields.
The county wishes to recognize and thank Belwin Conservancy for this important partnership.
Contact: Douglas Berglund, Emergency Services Manager, 651-430-7682
