The Washington County Board of Commissioners met March 24 at the Government Center in Stillwater, transacting much business.
Starting with road news, the Board approved a cooperative cost-share agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the City of Cottage Grove. The agreement is for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 39/Trunk Highway (TH) 61/80th Street South Interchange Improvement Project.
The City of Cottage Grove is planning a pavement rehabilitation project on 80th Street South for construction in 2026. MnDOT partnered with Cottage Grove to incorporate interchange improvements at TH 61 into the project scope. These improvements include traffic signal modifications, approach panel replacement, pavement resurfacing, and updated signing and striping at the interchange.
Washington County CSAH 39 is the western leg of the 80th Street South/southbound TH 61 ramp intersection. Under MnDOT’s cost participation policy, Washington County is responsible for its share of MnDOT’s construction costs associated with the interchange improvements.
MnDOT’s cooperative agreement with Cottage Grove and Washington County defines cost participation, construction responsibilities, and long-term maintenance obligations for the TH 61 interchange improvements and state-furnished materials. The Cottage Grove City Council approved this agreement at its March 18 meeting.
Also in road related news, The Board approved a cooperative agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) March 24 for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 18 (Bailey Road /40th Street South) and Trunk Highway (TH) 95 roundabout project in Woodbury and Afton.
MnDOT and Washington County are partnering to improve safety and traffic operations at the intersection of TH 95 and CSAH 18. The intersection is currently controlled by all-way stop signs. With continued traffic growth and development in the area, the existing configuration has become increasingly inefficient and has experienced a pattern of crashes during peak travel periods.
MnDOT will construct a modern single-lane roundabout to reduce crash severity, improve traffic flow, and enhance safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. MnDOT has completed public engagement, finalized design, acquired the necessary right-of-way, and advertised the project for construction. Bid opening is scheduled for March 25, 2026. The project is funded through MnDOT, Highway State Aid, and a federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant.
Because Washington County owns and operates two legs of this intersection, the county has an estimated cost-share responsibility for the project of $211,100.
Closing out road updates, the Board approved an $801,445.75 contract with Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp. to provide crack sealing services on roads and highways in the county.
Crack sealing is a key pavement-preservation strategy that protects the county’s transportation infrastructure and extends the life of existing pavement. This preventive maintenance approach maximizes the life of the county’s investment, delays the need for costly overlays or reconstruction, and supports a safe, reliable transportation network. Crack sealing is performed annually to maintain system-wide pavement health.
The 2026 program will seal roadway cracks across the county system, including County Roads, County State Aid Highways, county park roads and parking lots, and city and township road segments completed at the request and cost of those jurisdictions.
Bids for this project were opened on March 3, 2026, with Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp. as the lowest responsible bidder.
In addition to the contract, the County Board approved cost-share agreements with Birchwood, Stillwater Township, and Grey Cloud Island Township to cover the costs of crack sealing on specified city and township roads.
Crack sealing is planned to begin in May.
In library news, meanwhile, the Board approved a $1,409,930 contract with MSR Design for architectural and engineering services for the R.H. Stafford Library improvement project March 24.
R.H. Stafford Library is the most used library in Washington County and requires significant upgrades. The building was originally constructed in 2002, and after nearly 25 years of continuous, high-volume use, the space layout has become inefficient, interior finishes are worn, and major mechanical and electrical systems are reaching the end of their useful life.
The county issued a request for proposals in December and received 11 proposals. MSR Design was selected as the preferred consultant for the project.
Under the contract, MSR will provide the following services in each project phase:
Phase 1: Pre-Design Feasibility Study
• Data Collection / Space Needs Programming
• Concept Design Planning
• Community Engagement
Phase 2: Design
• Schematic Design
• Design Development
• Construction Documents
• Community Engagement
• Bidding Assistance
Phase 3: Construction
• Permitting Assistance
• Construction Administration
• Project Close-Out
The design phases will kick off in the spring of 2026 and last 12 months. Construction is planned to begin in the spring of 2027 with completion in the summer of 2028.
In appointments from March 24, the Board appointed Jacob Connell to a partial term as a Consumer Representative on the Mental Health Local Advisory Council. The term starts March 25, 2026, and expires Dec. 31, 2026.
As for environmental grants, the Board learned that Washington County will receive $13,500 in reimbursement for 24.75 acres of prairie restoration at Big Marine Regional Park, thanks to a grant from the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD).
Last March, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a grant agreement and licenses to partner with the Washington Conservation District, Pollinator Friendly Alliance, and Washington County Pheasants Forever Chapter on implementing a Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Habitat Enhancement Landscape Program grant for the Big Marine Park prairie restoration project.
At its Dec. 10, 2025, meeting, CMSCWD agreed to supply $13,500 in Community Grants Program grant funding to support the existing restoration project and assist the county in diversifying the native seeding and implementing additional stewardship practices.
This funding will be provided via reimbursement to the county after implementation of the restoration project. The County Board approved the grant agreement with the CMSCWD March 24.
The location of the project area is north and south of County Road 4 (170th Street) and west of May Avenue.
In law enforcement related news, meanwhile, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a $6,005.25 donation from OUR Rescue to help offset the costs of a license for a forensic tool to access encrypted data on mobile devices.
The software called GrayKey Essentials is designed to provide same-day, lawful access to mobile devices and extraction of encrypted data.
OUR Rescue is a nonprofit organization that exists to protect children from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, a mission best accomplished through collaboration with law enforcement agencies both in the U.S. and abroad. The donation from OUR Rescue is part of its commitment to empowering domestic law enforcement agencies by providing tools, training, and technology to enhance their abilities to combat child exploitation.
Also in law enforcement news, the Sheriff’s Office received $5,000 from Walmart’s Spark Good Local Grant program in support of the Sheriff’s Office Shop with a Cop event.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office has partnered with the Oak Park Heights Walmart for the last several years to host a holiday Shop with a Cop community engagement event.
Military families identified by the Yellow Ribbon Network and students nominated by local elementary schools that could use additional help to make the holidays a little brighter are selected to participate in this event. The selected children are paired with deputies from the Sheriff's Office and officers from the Oak Park Heights Police Department to shop for gifts for their families. The participants are also provided a Secret Santa gift selected by the deputy or officer that they are paired with. This event has been a great opportunity for the Sheriff’s Office employees and volunteers to connect with the community positively.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the donation March 24.
Returning to environmental updates, the Board approved a $408,729.11 contract with Short Elliott Hendrickson Architects, Inc. for engineering and environmental services for the Central Yard Waste site project March 24.
Last year, the county purchased property along Hudson Road South in Afton as the location of a Central Yard Waste site. The acquisition and development of this site is an important step toward the county’s long-term vision of a sustainable, accessible, and resilient environment.
The new site will address service gaps and improve residential access to yard waste disposal in the central part of the county. To advance the project, the county issued a request for proposals in November 2025 for engineering and environmental services. The county received three proposals, with Short Elliott Hendrickson Architects, Inc. selected as the most qualified firm.
Under the contract, the firm will provide project management, civil site design, stormwater design, permitting, water well design, architectural and electrical design, construction services, landscape design, and environmental services.
Construction is planned for the fall of 2026.
Closing out the County update with liquor licenses, the Board approved a liquor license renewal application March 24.
The board approved an application for renewal of an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for the Outing Lodge LLC located in Stillwater Township.
The county processes all liquor licenses for the townships in the county. The county reviews the liability insurance, and the Sheriff’s Office, the County Attorney’s Office, and the Public Health & Environment Department complete compliance/verification checks.
Those requirements have all been completed for the application. The applicant’s license fees pay for the administrative costs of the county’s administration, compliance, and verification checks.