The Washington County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Government Center in Stillwater.

Among actions taken was the approval of an $88,092 grant Oct. 6 to install a solar array on the Park Grove Library in Cottage Grove. The library located at 7900 Hemingway Avenue behind the Grove 80 apartments in Cottage Grove is currently undergoing renovation, with anticipated completion of construction next spring.

The funding for the solar array meanwhile comes from the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Solar on Public Buildings grant program. The program competitively awards funding to local governments within the Xcel Energy Electric Service Territory for the installation of solar energy–generating systems on or adjacent to publicly owned and operated buildings.

The proposed solar installation at Park Grove Library will reduce building operating costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The total project cost, including installation, is $146,820. The grant reduces the county’s cost to $58,728. Annual utility savings are estimated at $6,241, resulting in an anticipated return on investment of 9.4 years. The system is expected to have a 30-year lifespan.

Washington County has a pending contract with Apadana Solar Technologies in the amount of $146,820 to complete the work, contingent upon acceptance of the grant. Washington County previously received $53,965 under this program to support installation of solar on the Emergency Housing Services Building in Stillwater.

In donation related news, the board approved a $1,000 donation from Kwik Trip in Hugo Oct. 6 to support the Sheriff’s Office’s annual Employee Appreciation Day and Wellness Event.

On Sept. 19, the Sheriff's Office hosted our 5th Annual Employee and Family Appreciation Day and Wellness Event. More than 300 employees and their families attended this event.

Also from Oct. 6, the board declared the month of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, passing a resolution to this effect at the regular board meeting.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is dedicated to the public and private sectors working together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. Over the years, it has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage actions by the public to reduce online risk, and generate discussion on cyber threats on a national and global scale.

The county has taken many steps to enhance cybersecurity within the organization, including delivering countywide training, supporting tools to report and respond to phishing attempts, providing system security patches, and performing security reviews of new applications before they are used at the county.

The county also encourages the public to take simple actions at home, not only during October but every day throughout the year, to stay safe online. These actions include recognizing and reporting phishing attempts, using strong passwords, turning on multifactor authentication (MFA), and updating software.

Continuing the Oct. 6 county board update, members declared Oct. 5 to 9 as Customer Service Week in Washington County. The board made the declaration and honored staff Oct. 6.

In 1992, the first full week in October was proclaimed National Customer Service Week by the U.S. Congress to recognize the work of customer service professionals throughout the year and the importance of that work in a wide range of businesses, including government.

All Washington County employees live out the county’s mission every day, providing exceptional services that enhance quality of life and promote a safe, healthy, and welcoming community for all.

Last but not least, the board appointed Liz Jennings to a partial term as a DEED Representative on the Workforce Development Board. The term starts Oct. 7, 2026, and expires Dec. 31, 2028.

The County Board extends its thanks and appreciation to all employees of Washington County for the quality service they provide.