The Washington County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 5 at 9 a.m. in the Government Center at Stillwater, conducting much business. Included in the morning’s meeting agenda were several items, including a proclamation and recognition, a road project, three appointments, and a liquor license renewal.
Starting with the proclamation from May 5, the board declared May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Washington County, passing a resolution recognizing the month.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a month-long commemoration of the history and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month takes place each year in May, which was permanently designated for the commemoration in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with festivals, educational programs, and other activities that center on cultural history.
Also from May 5, the board recognized National  Law  Enforcement  Week and  Law  Enforcement  Memorial  Day.
National  Law  Enforcement  Week will be recognized from May 10-16, 2026. The county extends its appreciation to the dedicated  law  enforcement  community for the vital contribution it makes to public safety for the well-being of county residents.
In honor of National Law Enforcement Memorial Day, the Washington County Sheriff's Office would like to invite the public to the Historic Courthouse on Thursday, May 15, at noon, for their annual ceremony honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Historic Courthouse is located at 101 West Pine Street in Stillwater.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 and the week in which it falls as a week for all  law  enforcement. The week is about honor, gratitude, remembrance, and support.
In road news meanwhile, the board approved a $428,079.40 contract with HR Green to provide final design services for the County State Aid Highway 16 (Valley Creek Road) Improvement Project.
The project extends from Interlachen Parkway to State Highway 95 (Manning Avenue) within the City of Woodbury. This project will:
• Resurface CSAH 16 from Interlachen Parkway to TH 95.
• Add dedicated right turn lanes at key intersections.
• Widen the existing shoulders between CSAH 19 (Woodbury Drive) and Settlers Ridge Parkway.
• Add a new trail connection on the north side of CSAH 16, from Jewel Drive to the existing pedestrian underpass/tunnel at Colby Lake Park.
HR Green has been working through a corridor study for this project since 2024. Since that time, the project team has engaged with the community through meetings with adjacent property owners and a series of public open houses. Through this engagement, the project team has created and shared a slate of recommendations to improve this area.
In January, the county issued a request for proposal to provide final engineering services for this project and received seven proposals from qualified firms. HR Green was selected as the best fit for the project. The scope of work under this contract includes project management, public engagement, utility coordination, drainage design, permitting, cost estimating, and creation of final construction plans.
The design phase will occur in 2026 with construction bidding scheduled for 2027 and construction in 2028.
In appointment news from May 5, the board reappointed Ryan Carufel to a four-year term, effective June 3, 2026, as the Washington County Veterans Service Officer.
Carufel leads a team of four Assistant Veterans Service Officers who provide services to approximately 13,000 veterans. They also assist surviving spouses, active duty, reserve, and National Guard members residing in Washington County who are seeking or applying for federal, state, and local benefits.
Carufel was first appointed in June 2014 and reappointed in 2018 and 2022.
Also in appointment news, the board made two appointments to the Mental Health Local Advisory Council, with Shannon Stone appointed to a partial term as an Educational Representative starting May 6, 2026, and expiring Dec. 31, 2028. The board also appointed Sheri Cindrich to a partial term as a Certified Peer Specialist Representative beginning May 6, 2026, and expiring Dec. 31, 2028.
Closing out the county board update from May 5, the board approved a 1-4 day temporary on-sale liquor license application for the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce for the Annual Food Truck Extravaganza on June 20, 2026, at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 12300 N. 40th St., in Baytown 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 applications. The applicants’ license fees pay for the administrative costs of the county's administration, compliance, and verification checks.