The Washington County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, Sept. 9 at the Government Center in Stillwater
Among the many actions taken was approval of two maintenance agreements for signals along the METRO Gold Line in Woodbury and Oakdale.
The agreements between the county, Metropolitan Council, and the cities of Woodbury and Oakdale outline that the county will be responsible for maintaining the signals and will be reimbursed for all activities.
The METRO Gold Line opened in March 2025. Metropolitan Council is responsible for 100 percent of the operation and maintenance costs, but they have partnered with other agencies, including Washington County, Saint Paul, and Maplewood, to perform the maintenance activities.
Washington County’s Office of Administration Communications Team received four awards from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators (MAGC) at the organization’s annual Northern Lights Awards ceremony on July 30, 2025.
The awards include:
• A first-place Northern Lights Award in the General Publication category for the 2024-2029 Washington County Strategic Plan.
• A silver award in the Photography category for the photos in the county’s 2025-2035 Groundwater Plan.
• A silver award in the Logo, Illustration, or Graphic category for the county’s Mental Health In Motion van wrap.
• A bronze award in the Social Media Engagement category for the Election 2024 social media campaign.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners recognized staff for the awards at its Sept. 9 meeting.
MAGC is a peer organization of professionals who are dedicated to improving public-sector communications. The annual Northern Lights Contest recognizes outstanding work in Minnesota’s government, educational, and nonprofit communications.
Also in meeting business from Sept. 9 was approval of a donation, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office receiving $1,000 from Guardian Fleet Safety in support of the Sheriff’s Office’s annual Employee and Family Appreciation Day and Wellness Event. The event will take place in September and more than 300 Sheriff's Office employees and their families will be attending.
In library news from Sept. 9, the Washington County Board declared September as Library Card Sign-up Month in Washington County. Library Card Sign-up Month is a national campaign to remind everyone about the valuable resources available with a library card. Library Card Sign-up Month began in 1987 and was inspired by then Secretary of Education William Bennett, who encouraged the initiative because “Every child should obtain a library card and use it.”
Washington County Library is celebrating September as Library Card Sign-up Month by promoting the benefits of signing up for a library card, including access to materials and resources that serve students of all ages as well as lifelong learners, job seekers, small business owners, and more.
By declaring September 2025 as Library Card Sign-up Month in Washington County, the county acknowledges the important role libraries play in our communities and encourages everyone to sign up for their library card today.
In road news from County Board, meanwhile, the Washington County Board approved Kimley-Horn to perform final design services on the Century Avenue North Reconstruction Project, which includes Highway 120 (Century Avenue North/East County Line Road) from Interstate 694 to County State Aid Highway 12 (Wildwood Road/County Road E). A $699,990 contract with the firm was approved Sept. 9.
Involved with the project is a transfer of jurisdiction, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) transferred jurisdiction of Highway 120 to Washington and Ramsey counties. Washington County accepted jurisdiction of the east side of the road in the City of Mahtomedi, and Ramsey County accepted jurisdiction of the west side of the road in the City of White Bear Lake. Washington County is leading the design and construction phases of this project on behalf of both counties.
Prior to the jurisdictional transfer, Washington County was awarded $7 million in federal funding to be used for construction. The County Board approved a contract with Bolton & Menk in September 2023 for preliminary design services and community engagement. From the community engagement phase, the project improvements were determined to include pavement reconstruction, intersection improvements, including traffic operations enhancements at critical intersections with unique traffic patterns, new pedestrian and bike facilities, improved access to local transit stops, and stormwater treatment.
The county posted a request for proposals for final design services in June 2025 and received four proposals. County staff, in partnership with Ramsey County staff, selected Kimley-Horn as the final design consultant.
The scope of Kimley Horn’s design consultant services will include:
• Project coordination.
• Agency and public involvement.
• Drainage analysis and design.
• ADA design.
• Significant emphasis on construction staging and development of detour plans.
• Completing permit applications.
• Producing construction documents.
• Calculating estimated project costs.
The final design phase will occur now through 2026. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.
Closing out news from County Board Sept. 9, the Washington County Board of Commissioners reappointed Chuck LeRoux of Oak Park Heights to a third term as a manager on the Brown's Creek Watershed District Sept. 9.
The term begins Oct. 22, 2025, and expires Oct. 21, 2028.